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HISTORY 



PERRY COUNTY 



OHIO 



BY 

CLEMENT L. MARTZOLFF 



PUBLISHED BY WARD & WEILAND 

NEW LEXINGTON, OHIO 



COLUMBUS, OHIO 

PRESS OF FRED. J. HEER 

1902 



THF LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS, 

"r-Mo Copies Received 

AUG. i9 1902 

COPVBIOHT ENTBV 

\<^ /to - /<J T- 

CLASS ^ XXo. No. 
COPY B. 



Entered According to the Act of Congress 
in the Year 1902 

BY CLEMENT L. MARTZOLFF 

in the Office of the Librarian of Congress 
at Washington. 



1 



to 



"A few moments before crossing the far-famed 
battle field of Montmirail, I met a cart rather 
strangely Icdcn; it zvas drazvn by a horse and an ass, 
and contained pans, kettles, old trunks, straw-bot- 
tomed chairs, with a heap of old furniture. In front, 
in a sort of basket, tvere three children, almost in a 
state of nudity; behind, in another, were several hens. 
The driver zvore a blouse, was zvalking, and carried 
a child on his back. A few steps from him was a 
zuoman. They zvere all hastening toward Montmi- 
rail, as if the great battle of 1814 were on the eve of 
being fought. 

'' / xvas informed, however, that this zvas not a 
removal; it was an expatriation. It zvas not to Mont- 
mirail they were going — it was to America. They 
were not flying to the sound of the trumpet of war — 
they zvere hurrying from misery and starvation. In a 
zvord, it zvas a family of poor Alsatian peasants who 
zvere emigrating. They could not obtain a living in 
their native land, but had been promised one in Ohio." 
— From Victor Hugo's "The Rhine." 

To my Alsatian grandparents, paternal and maternal, who 
were among the pioneers of Perry coimty, and who may have 
been the ones seen by Victor Hugo, this volume is respect- 
fully dedicated. 



( 



FOREWORD. 



Apology for the existence of this book will not be hidden 
under the multi-repeated quotation, "of the making of many 
books," etc., or the "filling of a long felt want." 

It is written because the author "wanted" to write it. 

It is being published because friends have generously 
subscribed for it. 

I believe that there is room for a small volume containing 
in brief, the main facts concerning the history and industrial 
development of this county. 

We teach our children about happenings in remote ages, 
in countries of which they know nothing, and allow the occur- 
rences transpiring before them to pass by unnoted. 

Every teacher can testify to the woeful ignorance of the 
youth, as to local affairs, while every school examiner can 
truthfully say the same about the teachers. 

It is my belief that in this book has been collected much 
that will prove a source of information and interest to many. 
The subject is not in any manner exhausted. A vast amount 
more could have been written, but the aim has been to ex- 
clude all matter of secondary importance. 

To acknowledge, individually, the assistance received from 
friends, in the way of data, would require more space than 
can be devoted to it. I am under the deepest obligation to 
them, and but for their suggestion and aid this volume would 
not have been possible. 

Clement L. Martzolff. 

New Lexington, Ohio. June 18, 1902. 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE. 

Meridian Monuments 1 

Drainage 1 

Water Shed 3 

Elevations Above Sea Level 4 

Buckeye Lake 4 

Geological Divisions of the County 5 

Drift Region 6 

Lake Ohio 8 

Pre-Glacial Drainage 8 

Terraces 10 

Rocks of Perry County as to Structure 11 

Vertical Section of Rocks of Perry County 16 

Vertical Section of Sub-strata at New Lexington Depot. 16 

Vertical Section of Strata at Moxahala 16 

Vertical Section of Rocks at McCuneville 18 

Generalized Section of Perry County Strata 19 

Limestones 21 

Fossils from the Maxville Limestone 22 

Iron Ores 25 

Coals 27 

Buried Channels 29 

Clays 30 

Petroleum and Gas 30 

Saltlicks 32 

Lidey's Rocks 33 

High Rocks 33 

Bear Dens 33 

Why Rush Creek Bottom is Flat 34 

The Mastodon 35 

Birds of Perry County 35 

Animals 39 

Forests 40 

Big Sassafras 41 

Pre-Historic Race 41 

Children of the Forest 49 

a. Buffalo Trails 50 



VIII CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

b. Monongahela Trail 50 

c. Shawnee Run Trail 51 

(L Flint Ridge Trail 52 

e. Scioto Beaver Trail •: 53 

/. Moxahala Trail 5-3 

g. The Last Conflict 54 

h. The White Man's Foot 57 

;. The Last of His Race 58 

;'. Treaty of Fort Stanwix 58 

Under the Banner of St. George 58 

Under the Lilies of France 59 

In the Province of Quebec 62 

Boutetorst County 63 

In the County of Illinois 63 

First White Man in Perry County 64 

Land Surveys 65 

Scioto Land Scheme 68 

Zane's Trace 70 

Refugee Tract 77 

The Heroes of the Forest 78 

The Evolution of Perry County 82 

Village Settlements 84 

Organization of the Townships 93 

Section Sixteen 96 

Churches 08 

a. Lutheran and Reformed 99 

h. Presbyterians 100 

c. Bunkers 101 

d. Baptists 101 

c. Methodists 102 

f. Bible Christians 103 

g. Disciples 10.3 

h. United Brethren 103 

/. Mennonites 104 

./. Catholics 104 

Schools 107 

a. Madison Academy 1 12 

h. St. .\loysius' .\cademy 113 

Mills 113 

Oil Works 114 



CONTENTS. IX 

PAGE. 

The Old Salt Kettle 115 

McCuneville Salt Works 115 

Tobacco Houses 116 

Lime Kilns 117 

An Old Time Pottery 118 

Blast Furnaces 119 

Coal Mines 122 

Oil Wells 123 

The Inventor of the Revolver 124 

Perry County in War 125 

Perry County in Congress 129 

The Removal of the County Seat 130 

Public Buildings 133 

Underground Railroad 135 

Morgan's Raid 136 

Population of Perry County 141 

Constitutional Conventions 141 

Col. James Taylor 142 

Stephen Benton Elkins 144 

The Knight of the Pen 146 

a. Biography of MacGahan, by Judge M. W. Wolfe. 150 

b. Funeral and Burial of MacGahan 159 

c. The Article that Caused the Russo-Turko War. .. 163 

d. Poem, by Col. Taylor 170 

Jeremiah M. Rusk 173 

William Alexander Taylor 175 

James M. Comley 178 

Gen. Philip H. Sheridan 181 

a. Sheridan's Ride 184 

Rev. Father Zahm 189 

Dr. Isaac Crook 188 

The Oldest Woman in Perry County 191 

Perry County's First Historian 192 

Poem, "Beauty of Our Hills" 195 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



PAGE. 

Portrait of Author Frontispiece 

Lidey's Rock Opposite 32 

The Big Sassafras " 32 

The Stone Fort " 42 

The Wilson Mound " 44 

The Roberts Mound " 44 

Earthworks, North of Glenford " 46 

Flint Implements, One-fourth Size " 48 

Hematite Objects, One-third Size " 48 

Ceremonials, Gorgets, Banners, Stones, etc.. " 50 

Pipes Attached to Antlers of Deer '' 52 

An Indian Grist Mill " 52 

A Scene on the Moxahala " 54 

Where Ebenezer Zane is Buried " 76 

A Scene in New Lexington in 1873 " 86' 

Peter Overmeyer " 78 ' 

Old Lutheran Cemetery at Somerset " 98 

An Old Time Meeting House " 98 

Bishop Fenwick Discovering a Catholic Family 

in Perry County " 104 

The New Home in the Woods of Perry Co. ... " 76 

Church at Chapel Hill " 106 

Old Stone Church " 106 

Madison Academy " 112 

Old Salt Kettle " 112 

McCuneville Salt Works " 114 

Old Tobacco House " 114 

Remains of a Maxville Lime Kiln " 116 

An Old Time Pottery " 116 

A Ghost of Departed Industry — Baird Furnace. " 118 

A Model Coal Mine — Congo " 118 

Coal Tipple at Congo " 86 ' 

Power House at Congo " 122 

In the Corning Oil Field " 122 

Monument to 31st O. V. I., New Lexington... " 124 



XII 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



PAGE. 

Old Court House at Somerset Opposite 134 

Old Court House at New Lexington " 136 

Old Temple of Justice — The New Court House. " 136 

Old Perry County Infirmary " 138 

A Station on the Underground " 138 

Stephen B. Elkins " 144 

The Knight of the Pen " 146 

Birthplace of MacGahan " 158 

The Resting Place of Bulgaria's Liberator.... " 158 

A Grubber " 174 

Jeremiah Rusk " ITi' 

Where Uncle Jerry Rusk was Born " 174 

Col. W. A. Taylor " 178 

Gen. James M. Comley " 1^0 

The Hero of Cedar Creek " 182 

Early Home of General Sheridan "■ ISii 

Priest and Scientist — Father Zahm " 186 

Catherine Cavinee " l!*0 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, OHIO. 



Meridian Monuments. 

Persons visiting the New Lexington Fair have no 
doubt noticed the two granite monuments situated 
about the middle of the grounds. Some have the idea 
that they mark the geographical center of the county. 
This is not the case. The westward one was planted 
by Philander Binckley about thirty years ago. to cor- 
respond to the true meridian. On account of the 
variation of the magnetic pole, it was found necessary 
in 1898 to again locate it. The County Commission- 
ers contracted with John Avery to place the new monu- 
ment. 

He planted it at the south end of the line bearing 
north 30 degrees, west, 627.8 feet distant from the 
southeast corner of the southwest quarter of Section 
No. 5, Tp. No. 15, Range No. 15. 

The geographical latitude is 39 degrees, 44 min- 
utes north. The geographical longitude is 5 degrees 
and IT minutes west from Washington. The variation 
of the Magnetic Meridian from the True Meridian is 
28 minutes to the north. 

Drainage. 

Buckeye Lake and three rivers receive the waters 
of Perry county. These rivers are the Scioto, the 
Muskingum and the Hocking. Walnut Creek, a tribu- 
tary of the Scioto has one of its sources in the western 
part of Thorn township. The Big Swamp originally 
discharged its waters into the Licking river, and is 



Z HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

therefore a part of the Muskingum basin. The prin- 
cipal stream emptying into Buckeye Lake is Honey 
Creek. All four of the drainage systems, as far as 
Perry county is concerned, have their sources in Thorn 
township. Walnut Creek flows toward the west. 
Honey Creek to the north. Jonathan or the Moxahala 
to the east and Rushcreek to the south. Hopewell 
township is drained by Jonathan and Rushcreek. Mad- 
ison is drained by Jonathan. The principal tributaries 
of north Jonathan Creek are Turkey Run and Buckeye 
Creek in Clayton. The remainder of that township fur- 
nishes the sources of small streams that flow into the 
east branch of Rushcreek or the south fork of Jona- 
than. The northeastern part of Reading is drained by 
Hood's Run into the Moxahala. The western part is 
traversed by tributaries of Rushcreek, while the east 
branch of Rushcreek gets the southern part. Harrison 
township is mostly in the basin of the south fork of the 
Jonathan, as is Bearfield with the exception of the 
south side where Sundaycreek has its origin. A branch 
of Wolfe Creek, in Morgan county also rises in the 
southeast of Bearfield. The east branch of Rushcreek 
and the south fork of the Moxahala get the waters 
of Pike. Jackson has many feeders for east Rush- 
creek. Little Mondaycreek has its beginning in this 
township at the Gordon Cross Roads, where the Lex- 
ington and Logan road crosses the old Monongahela 
Indian trail. Mondaycreek is aptly named. Both 
streams of that name receive her entire drainage. 
l>ig Mondaycreek and the west branch of Sunda\- 
creek get Saltlick's rainfall. IJig Mondaycreek has 
also a tributary in Coal. Indian Creek rises in the 
eastern part of that township and flows into Sunday- 
creek "ver in Athens county. Pleasant throws her 



IIIS'JORV OF 1'1:KK\" (OL XTN'. '■) 

waters into the south fork of the Moxahala and to 
Sundaycreek. Monroe is entirely drained h\ the last 
named stream. 

Water Shed. 

The Perry County Divide extends in an irregular 
line from the northwest to the southeast. It begins 
in Thorn township separating the streams that flow 
into Buckeye Lake and Jonathan's Creek from Rush- 
creek and Big Walnut. Somerset is situated on it. 
Passing through Clayton township it sweeps to the 
east toward McLuney. The C. & M. V. Tunnel cuts 
it east of New Lexington. Then turning toward the 
west again it completes a horse-shoe by circling south 
of Xew Lexington. The T. & O. C. railroad tunnels 
it about a mile south of the county seat. It continues 
westward as far as Bristol. This place occupies the 
summit of a ridge from wnich five streams have their 
sources. — Turkey Run of Rushcreek, South Fork of 
Jonathan, Little Mondaycreek, Big Mondaycreek and 
a branch of Sundaycreek. The water-shed south 
of Bristol turns toward the northeast, forming the 
ridge between the South h^ork of Jonathan and Sun- 
daycreek. Passing south of Moxahala the T. & O. C. 
R. R. has made through it the longest tunnel in 
Perry county. The dividing ridge leaves the county 
at Porterville. It is 114 miles long and passes through 
nine townships : Thorn, Hopewell. Reading, Clayton, 
Harrison. Pike, Saltlick, Pleasant and Bearfield. Its 
average elevation is about 450 feet above Lake Erie 
and about i.ooo feet above sea level. 



4 HISTORY OF PERRY COrXTY. 

Elevations Above Sea Level. 

l-eet. 

Curning, L")epot 722 

McLuney. Depot 905 

Moxahala. Depot 821 

Xew Lexington. Depot 856 

Xew Lexington Court House 94«) 

New Straitsville. Depot T!I2 

Rendville. Depot "42 

Summit LaRue's Gap. Shawnee 909 

Somerset, Court House 1 . 159 

Maxville, Limestone 776 

Roseville. Depot 783 

Gore ( near county line ) 763 

Monday Creek Station ( on county line 089 

\\'inona Furnace (on county line) 743 

Great Coal A'cin at Xew Straitsville "^70 

Buckeye Lake. 

Buckeye Lake, formerly known as Licking Reser- 
voir, is the onlv body of water of which our county 
can boast. It now contains about thirty-six hundred 
acres. It is partly natural and partly artificial. The 
natural part consisted of three or four little lakes of 
pure clear water, well stocked with fish, ."situated as 
it is along the line of the Terminal Moraine, there is 
no doubt that it is the result of the great ice sheet 
that came down from Canada long ago. 

When Christopher Gist encamped upon its shores 
in 1/5 1, he named it the Buffalo Lick, or the Great 
Swamp. The first settlers, about the year i8oo, found 
wild plums and red thorn-berries growing along its 
shores in profusion. The center of the original lake 
was quite deep with a cranberry island floating upon 
its surface. 

In the year 1825, when the Ohio Canal was dug, 
quite a good deal of the surrounding land was flooded 



inSTORN' OF I'llKKN' COIXTV. 

to enlarge the lake that it might Ijecome a feeder to 
the canal. At Millersport is what is known as the 
'■('cep cut." It is ahout three miles li;ng". 

Buckeye Lake is one of the prettiest little sheets 
of water in the State. Its banks are shaded with trees 
that bend over it, and its placid surface, glinting in 
the sunlight, is a pleasing contrast to the "rock ribbed" 
hills. Here the Isaac Waltons an 1 the Ximrods dis- 
port themselves and the man can leave the harass- 
ments of business and hie himself to this little "Touch 
of Xature." and lull himself into sweet forgetfulness. 

Geological Divisions. 

The great line extending throughout the State 
from north to south and dividing the Carboniferous 
from the Sub-carboniferous regions, passes in an 
irregular path through a portion of our county. It 
strikes our county near the Hopewell-Thorn boundary 
and its course is approximately south till it reaches 
tlu' northwest corner of Jackson. Here it sweeps 
mirth, east and then south. Junction Citv is its east- 
ern extremity. It then continues in a southwesterly 
direction leavin.o- the county at the southwest corner 
of Section 18 in Jackson township. East of this line 
are tound the coal measures. Xone are found west 
of it. 

( )ur strata rise to the northwest at the rate of 
about thirty feet to the mile. It follows then that 
rock lying three hundred feet beneath the surface at 
a given elevation in the southeast of the countv, 
would a])pear on the surface, at the same elevation, 
ten miles northwest. For example, McCuneville and 
?*Iaxville have aoproximately the same altitude. At 
Al:Cuneville the Sub-carboniferous or [Nlaxville lime- 



6 IIISTDKN- (II- n-lKin' COrXTV. 

stone, is (inc hundred and ten feet Ijeneath the creek 
Ijed. At Alaxville the hme appears in the bed of the 
creek. 

The Sub-carboniferous lime as its name impHes 
underlies all our coal measures. When the Maxville 
lime makes its ajjpearance on the tops of the hills, it 
is useless to look for coal there. So, the line we have 
described, theoretically marks the out-crop of the Sub- 
carboniferous lime on the tops of our liills. ( See 
Map.) 

Drift Region. 

Our C()unt\- mav also be divided into two otlier 
geolog'ical divisions, viz: the Glaciated or Drift Re- 
gion and the Xon-olaciatcd. North of the Great Lakes 
is the Laurentian Highland. This highland was once 
a lofty range of mountains. ]t was then, with them, 
just as it is with high mountains today. ( )n tlieir 
snow-capped summits, ice was formed and it pitched 
in frightful avalanches to the valleys below, carrying 
with it masses of rock, from their deep scarred sides. 
Glaciers, or river-like fields of ice were thus pushed 
out further and further toward the southland, taking 
with them the granite, which the\- ground and pol- 
ished with their tremendous weight. This vast river 
of ice ])assed, in manv i)laces over the soft bed-rock 
and we can yet see the grooves and scratches nn its 
surface. 

Tlie climate must have been somewhat cooler in 
that time, than now. or the glacial sheet could 'lot have 
come so far soutli. Uut finally it reached a point where 
it began to melt. As it receded toward the north, it 
left scattered over the land, millions U]ion millions of 
tons of granite boulders, many of immense size, peb- 
bles and eartli. The ])ebbles and eartli mixed with 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. / 

lime and other rock gathered in its journey, constitutes 
the soil in the entire "Drift Region." It is ver}' fer- 
tile and is known as "Till." 

The line marking the southern extremity of the ice 
region is known as the "Terminal Moraine." It ex- 
tends in a general easterly and westerly direction 
throughout the United States. In Ohio its trend is 
northeast and southwest. This "Terminal Moraine" 
passes through Perry county. In Thorn tOAvnship cart 
be found evidences of the ice. The boulders or "nig- 
ger heads" can be found lying promiscuously about. 
The fertility of its soil is dependent upon the "till," 
which is often found to be 90 feet in thickness. 

It is a coincidence that the "Terminal Moraine" in 
Perry county is practically the same line that divides 
the Carboniferous from the Sub-carboniferous areas. 
(See Map.) There are some exceptions and these 
have been designated as "drift loops." (See Map), 
These "loops" may have been caused by subsequent 
erosion and drifting of streams. There is no doubt 
but that our streams have not always had the same 
course that they have now. The "Drift" extended 
much farther in Perry county than most people sup- 
pose. The finding of a granite boulder, weighing al- 
most a ton, in Section 16, Jackson township occasioned 
some surprise. Such a rock could not have been car- 
ried by water. 

This Ice Sheet scraped out the Great Lakes, to- 
gether with the thousands of smaller ones in the north- 
ern part of the United States. The natural part of 
Buckeye Lake is a remnant of the weakened power of 
the glacier. What a pity that the ice did not cover 
all of Perry county. Its fertility throughout would 
then have been equal to Thorn township. 



O HIS'lORV OF PERRY COUNTY. 

Lake Ohio. 

Prof. G. Frederick Wri.g^ht, 01>erlin, O.. who has 
obtained a world-wide reputation, as authority on gla- 
cial phenomena, says that at one time, when the ice 
began breaking, it formed a dam at Cincinnati, to the 
height of about 550 feet. This would cause the water 
to back up the trough of the Ohio and its tributaries, 
to the height of the dam. It is estimated that this dam 
covered an area of 20,000 square miles. During the 
summer months the dam would break and the floods 
would sweep down the valley with terrible velocity. 
It is interesting to note that the northern tributaries 
of the Ohio have their sources in the glaciated region. 
This accounts for the presence of glacial pebbles along 
many of our streams, beyond the ice covered tract. 
There are evidences of streams that then existed and 
poured a vast volume of water and deposited "till" on 
their ancient shores. The channels of these old 
streams are now known as "gaps." This Lake Ohio 
extended into Perrv county. Prof. Wright's map 
marks Logan as the northern limit of the lake, on the 
Hocking river. Judginp" from this level, the lake 
reached to Maxville on Little Mondaycreek, to near 
vShawnee and McLuneville on Big Mondaycreek, and 
to Corning on Sundaycreek. It must have backed up 
a considerable distance on Jonathan's Creek, at least 
to the F'erry countv line. 

Pre-Glacial Drainage. 

By George W. DeLong. 

Scientists have found much evidence that the pre- 
glacial drainage of a large portion of the state of 
Ohio was verv different from its present drainage. 



IllSTOKV OF I•ERR^' COL-NTY. V 

For our present discussion we need lo note only a few 
of these changes. There seems to be very good reasons 
to beheve that the Muskingum river flowed from Dres- 
den by way of Hanover, Newark, the Licking Reser- 
voir and Thurfton, and joined the Scioto north of 
Circleville. 

The Hocking river flowed north from Rock-bridge, 
Hocking" county, and joined the Muskingum near 
Canal Winchester. Northern Perry county was in- 
cluded in this pre-glacial drainage area. 

All the upper streams of the North Branch of the 
Moxahala, including Turkey Run flowed to the north- 
west and discharged their waters into the Muskingum 
at some point near the present Licking Reservoir. 

The South Branch of the Moxahala, which was 
joined by Buckeye Creek at Darlington, flowed along 
the present line of the C. & M. V. R. R., from that 
point to Zanesville, and, having joined its waters with 
that of the Licking river, united with the Muskingum 
at some point north or west of Zanesville. The differ- 
ent branches of Rushcreek flowed approximately along 
their ])rcsent courses and joined the Hocking near 
Lancaster. 

^^'hcn the great ice-sheet came down from the 
north, carrying with it a large amount of drift and 
till, the streams described above were dammed up in 
their courses and lakes formed at Zanesville, in Thorn 
and Hopewell townships in Perrv county, and at Lan- 
caster. 

The waters of the Lake at Lancaster found an out- 
let over the low ridge at Rock-bridge and joined the 
southern half of the Hocking. 

The lake at Zanesville found an outlet in the low 



10 lllSTom' OF i'l-Kin' COUNTY. 

ricle-e near the Muskingum and Morgan county lines 
and thus turned this stream to the south. 

The lake in northern i'erry county found an outlet 
in the low ridge east of Alt. Perry and having united 
with Ruckeye Creek at Fultonham joined the south 
hranch at Darlington and this formed the present 
Moxahala River which drains so large a portion of 
Perry county. 

The Aloxahala turned to the east at Darlington 
and after cutting its way through the hills, joined the 
Muskingum some miles helow Zanesville. In time the 
ovitlets of these lakes cut canons in the ridges over 
which they flowed and thus the lakes were drained. 

Terraces. 

We quote from Prof. (i. Frederick Wright. (l])er- 
lin. "Almost without exception, the streams flowing 
southward from the glaciated area show marks of 
former floods from fifty to a hundred feet higher 
than any which now occur. Gravel deposits from 
fifty to a hundred feet higher than the present flood 
])lain, line the valley of everyone of these streams, 
not only where they lie in the glaciated region, but 
through much of their course after they have emerged 
from the glaciated into the unglaciated region." This 
can be noticed in Thorn township, along the valley of 
Jonathan Creek. Has anybody in Thorn township 
ever noticed it? It is in these terraces that the so- 
called palaeolithic implements have been found, which 
show that man lived here before the ice came. Gold 
is often found in these terraces. It is called "Drift 
(jold." Some of it was discovered along the Licking 
river several years ago. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 11 

Rocks of Perry County as to Structure. 

1. Massive Rock. As Granite. 

2. Crystalline Rock. As Flint. 

3. Stratified Rock. As Sandstone or Shale. 

4. Fossiliferous Rock. As Limestone. 

5. Sedimentary Rock. As Sandstone. 

6. Cono'lonierate Rock. Pebbles cemented to- 
gether. 

7. Decomposed Rock. Crumbled. 

8. Concretionary Rock. As kidney iron ore. 

Massive rocks are such as have been produced from 
within the crust of the earth in a molten condition. 
Most of them consist of two or more minerals. Their 
chemical constituents are silica, magnesia, lime, potash, 
soda, magnetic iron and phospate of lime. Igneous 
or Eruptive, is another name for massive rocks. 

The granite found in the drift region, is a repre- 
sentative of the massive rock in Perry county. 

Crystalline rocks are those that are formed mainly 
by chemical deposits. They are frequently found in- 
terstratified with other kinds. They are being formed 
constantly by mineral springs, or in the bottom of in- 
land seas and lakes. The most common Crystalline 
rock in Perry county is Flint or Chert. 

Stratified Rocks are such as lie in layers one over 
the other. Perry county rocks are all classed among 
the stratified except those brought in by the ice sheet. 
The strata of the county lie in much the saiue way as 
they did when they were deposited on the old sea floor 
or the bed of the inland sea. They have not been dis- 
turbed by orogenic agencies and the faults that may be 
found by borings can be accounted for, in other ways. 

Fossiliferous Rocks contain fossils. The word 



12 lilSIOKV OF PEKKV COL NTV. 

*■ fossil" etymologically means "dug up." For many 
years it included anv mineral substance, but its mean- 
ing is now restricted to include tbe remains of plants 
and animals preserved in rocks. Our Fossiliferous 
Rocks are sbales and limestones. 

Fossils are formed by the decay of animal cells and 
the mineral constituent taking the place of the organic 
matter. Our limestones are particularly fertile in fos- 
sils. They consist of shells of various forms of sub- 
marine life. Our shales have also an abundance of 
fossils. The imprint of leaves and stems of trees are 
especially plentiful. Sometimes the track of a bird is 
found. Even sandstone contains them in places. They 
do not occur frequently, however, as there is not suf- 
ficient plastic material in sandstone to hold the fossil 
intact. The writer is the possessor of a beautiful fossil 
in sandrock. It contains four fern leaves. Even the 
midrib is plainly visible. The fossils found in the 
coal measures of the county are best known. Many 
beautiful specimens have been discovered. Impressions 
of fern leaves, branches and trunks of trees, are of 
frequent occurrence. They are mostly to be found 
in the slate over the coal. In the shales that often 
accompanv some of the lighter coal measure? of the 
county may be found excellent fossils of plant life. 
About a mile east of Junction City the writer found 
the fossiliferous stem of a plant, fifteen feet in length 
and was not able to get it all for the road workers had 
destroyed some of it. The Junction City High School 
pupils afterward found another one, a part of which 
thev placed in their cabinet of collections. Another 
Perry comity fossil is yet to be mentioned. Put it is 
an alien. It was brought in by the glacial drift. Scat- 
tered throughout the drift region. es]U'ciall\- in the 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. IB 

/ 

northern part of the county, alon*- the terraces of Jon- 
athan Creek are found numerous remains of coral 
formations. Some of them are very beautiful, but 
they are mostly small fragments. 

Outside of the drift, the Perry county rocks are 
mostly sedimentary. The limestones were formed by 
the siftings of organic matter to the bottom of the an- 
cient ocean. The sandstones, likewise rose from the 
.sea, formed by the small particles of sand that settled 
from above. 

The Conglomerates consist of pebbles, cemented to- 
gether. By silicious matter mixing with them and by 
pressure, they were crowded into a compact mass. 
Conglomerates are found in abundance south of Glen- 
ford at the r)ld Stone Fort. 

The geologist Heilprin tells an interesting story 
of how a friend of his, an old sea captain, had sent him 
a bolt, that had no doubt come from a wrecked vessel. 
The bolt having been buried in the sand, the rust from 
the iron acted as a cement to the small pebbles about it. 
A sheath of pebbles was thus formed and the bolt 
could be slipped in and out of its pebbly sheath with 
ease. This explains the process of making conglom- 
erates, or "pudding stone" as it is sometimes called-> 

Decomposed Rocks. — All our rocks are to a great- 
er or less extent decomposed. The process of decom- 
position is constantly going on. The mechanical action 
of water, the alternate contraction and expansion of 
particles of rock, and the work of the frost, are the 
silent laborers in the disintegration of the rock masses. 
The presence of iron in a great many of our native 
rocks is one of the surest methods of decomposition, 
The oxidation of iron in the sand rocks and shales of 
Perry county has done as much in tearing down its 



14 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

hills after the water had exposed their sides, as any 
other agency. Some of our rocks were never 
solid ; especially is this true of the shales. They, con- 
taining little or no sand, had not sufficient weight in 
themselves to become compact. Containing very little 
plastic material that could cement them, they are very 
easily eroded. They are altogether of the nature of 
decayed wood. In Pleasant, Bearfield and Monroe 
townships, especially in the latter, we find quite a num- 
ber of hills that are capped with shale deposits. Some- 
times we find on ridges, the remnants of these old 
shale beds standing out by themselves. All has been 
eroded except a small part which may easily be mis- 
taken for an artificial earthwork. 

Concretions are plentiful among the sedimentary 
rocks. The Concretionary Rocks of Perry county are 
mostly of the iron ore variety, although concretions of 
clay and limestone may also be found. These forma- 
tions were caused by the collection of a mineral around 
a center. They assume different shapes, usually spher- 
ical or elliptical. _ They are dispersed irregularly 
through other strata. 

Ferruginous or iron nodules are frequently found 
in clay. They form quite often about some organic 
body, such as a fragment of plant, shell or bone. The 
writer, accompanied by his pupils, on a Geological 
Field Day, found an excellent specimen of iron nodule, 
about a mile south of Junction City. In the bed of a 
stream was found a stratum of pure clay or soapstone, 
The appearance of a circular rock of a dififerent" color, 
upon the surface of the white stone attracted instant 
attention. The clay stone being soft, it was an easy 
matter to remove it from the concretion, for such it 
proved to be. Upon removal it was found to be some 



HISTORY OF I'EURY COUNTY. 15 

six inches long', about two and one-half inches in dia- 
meter at one end, gradually tapering toward the other 
The center of it looked like the heart of a tree. The 
conclusion was that when the clay stone was softer, a 
branch of wood lodged in it. As the wood decayed., 
particles of iron, percolating throug'h the soap stone 
would take the place of the wood cells, until finally the 
iron had completely substituted itself. It was in real- 
ity an iron fossil. We were further convinced of the 
truth of our conclusion by finding" a six-inch vein of 
the purest iron ore in the bank about three feet above 
the clay stratum. These iron concretions are some- 
times known as "kidney ore" from their shape. Upon 
breaking them open, a hollow center is found, usually 
containing a little clay dust. In these cases the center 
around which the concretions were made, has decayed, 
and as they are formed by building layer upon layer 
from the outside, the original ])ccomes a cavity. The 
iron nodule referred to above was not formed that way, 
It built toward the center. The incasement of the 
wood by the clay prevented the concentric layers from 
being laid npon.it from the outside. The bark of the 
wood would decay first. Its cells would be filled by 
the iron. The ferrnginous material, always being 
present, would enter the wood from above. The 
harder center decayed more slowly and only the finer 
particles of iron could find lodgment there and conse- 
quently the branch of the tree was almost perfectly 
reproduced. 



16 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 



Vertical Section of Rocks of Perry County. 

2. (jlacial Drift. 
1. Carboniferous. 

6. Upper Barren Coal Pleasures. ' 

I'pper Productive Coal Measures. 

Lower Barren Coal ^Measures. 

Lower Productive Coal ^Measures 

Conij;"lomerate Series. 

Subcarboniferous Limestone. 



Vertical Section of Sub-Strata at New Lexington 
Depot. 

Alluvial, i6 feet. 
Black Flint, 16-3.5. 
lilack Clay, 19.5-3.5. 
Limestone, 23-10. 
Wbite Clay. 33-92. 
White Sand, 125-15. 
Black Shale. 140-100. 
Sand, 240-12. 
Shale, 252-38. 
Sand, Salt, Course, 290-55. 
White sand, fine, 345-200. 
(iray sand, medium, 545-5. 
Shale, 550-300. 
Brown shale, 850-33. 
Berea sand, 883-28. 
Bedford shale, 911. 
(Courtesy, E. W. Dean). 

Section of Strata at Moxahala. 

42. Coal. (7a). 

41. Fire clay and shale. 

40. Limestone. 



IIlSroKY OF PERRY COUNTY. 17 



39- 


Sandy shale. 


38. 


Limestone. 


2>7- 


Fire clay, shale and iron. 


36. 


Sand rock. 


35- 


Fire clay. 


34- 


Sand rock. 


33- 


Shale. 


3^- 


Iron ore (Iron Point). 


31 


Fire clay. 


30. 


Sand rock. 


29. 


Shale iron ore. 


28. 


Coal (Stallsmith) (Upper 


and 7). 




27. 


Fire clay (Upper Freeport or 


26. 


Sand rock. 



Freeport) (6 



25. Iron ore ("Sour Apple''), Limestone shales, 
(Upper Freeport or Buchtel Ore). 

24. Coal (Norris) (6a) (Lower Freeport). 

23. Fire clay with iron ore (Lower Freeport 
Limestone). 

22. Sand rock. * 

21. White shale. 

20. Sand rock. 

19. Shale, with ore (Lower Freeport Sandstone). 

18. Coal, Great Vein (Middle (Upper) Kit- 
tanning) ( Upper New Lexington ) . 

17. Fire clay and sand rock. 

16. Iron ore (Phosphorous Ore of Hamden 
Furnace). 

15. Sandy shale. 

14. Fire clay. 

13. Coal. "Lower Moxahala" (No. 5) (Lower 
New Lexington). 
2 H. p. c. 



18 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

12. Fire clay and sand rock (Kittanning sand- 
stone and clay). 

11. Ore (Ferriferous Limestone) (Baird Ore). 

10. Sandy shale. 
9. Fire clay. 

8. Sandy shale. 

7. Sand rock. 

6. Shale. 

5. Coal. 

4. Sandstone and shale. 

3. Cherty limestone and coal. 

2. Sandstone and shale. 

I. Coal. 
The Vertical Distance through which these strata 
pass is about 350 feet. — Ohio Geological Report. 
{The parentheses are the authors). 

Section of Rock at McCuneville. 

(Including Surface Horizons and the Strata Disclosed 
by Borings for Salt.) 

18. Shales and sandstones. 

17. Iron ore. 

16. Sandy shale. 

; 35. Limestone capped with ore. 

14. Sandy shale. 

13. Coal. 

12. Sandstone and shale. 

11. Coal. 

10. Shale and sandstone. 

9. Coal No. 6, Great Vein (Middle (Upper) 
Kittanning) (Upper New Lexington). 

8. Shales with iron ore. 

7. Coal with ore below. 

6. Sandy shale or sandstone. 



HISTORV OF I'ERRV COLNTY. 



19 



5 


Shell ore 10 feet below coal. 


4 


Iron ore. 


3 


Coal. 


2 


Shales and sandstone. 


I 


Coal. 


O 


Blue limestone with ore. 


I 


Shales. 


2 


Coal. 


3 


Shales. 


4 


Coal. 


5 


Sandy Shales. 


6 


Maxville Limestone. 


7 


Sandstone and shale, with salt water. 


8 


Shale. 


9 


Black Shale. 


lO 


White sandstone. 


II 


Salt water in Waverly Sandstone. 


12 


Red shale. 


13 


Gray sand-rock. 


U 


Dark shale. 


15 


Hard shale. 


Th 


e Vertical Section of Surface Horizons is 


about 


300 feet. 


Th 


e depths of the wells were about 900 feet. 


Th 


e Maxville Limestone is no feet, below the 


surfac 


e. 


Th 


e Great Coal Vein is 150 feet above the surtace 


of we] 


Is. — Ohio Geological Report. 



Generalized Section of Perry County Strata. 

43. Fresh Water Limestone (Ferrell's Hill). 
42. Ames Limestone — Found on tops of hills in 
Bearfield and Monroe. 

41. Ewins;' Limestone or iron ore. 



20 HISTORY OF PEKKV COLNTV. 

40. Patriot Coal. 

39. Cambridq'e Limestone — on the liill above 
Crooksville . 

38. Upper AJahoning' Sandstone. 

2)"/. Coal (Xo. ya) — traceable on tops of hills in 
eastern part of county (Mahonin^^ Coal). 

36. Mahoning' sandstone and shale. 

35. Iron Point Ore. 

34. Shales. 

2)2). Upper Freeport Coal (Stallsmith) (Workable 
at Hamburg) (No. 7). 

32. Upper Freeport or Bolivar Clay. 

31. Upper Freeport Limestone or Buchtel Ore. 
(Shawnee), (Sour Apple). 

30. Lower Freeport Coal {6a) (Xorris). 

29. Lower Freeport Limestone. 

28. Lower Freeport Sandstone. 

2y. Middle (Upper) Kittanning — Great Coal 
Vein — Copper New Lexington— No. 6. 

26. Fire Clav and Sand rock. 

25. Phosphorous Ore of Hamden Furnace. 

24. .Sand Shale. 

23. Lower Kittanning Coal (No. 5) (Lower New 
Lexington) (Lower ^loxahala) (Mined at Redfield). 

22. Kittanning Clay and Sandrock. 

21. Ore (Ferriferous Limestone) (Baird Ore) 
(Clarion Coal, sometimes wanting) (4a). 

20. Shales and Clay. 

19. Putnam Hill Limestone (Flint Beds at New 
Lexington). 

18. Brookville Coal (Tracings found in drill- 
ing) (4). 

17. Shale and Clay. 



HISTORY OF I'ERRV COLNTY. 21 

1 6. Tionesta Coal (Cannel Coal of Monday 
creek ) . 

15. Tionesta Clay ( Worked at Roseville). 

13 
12 
II 
10 

9 
CitY ) 



L'pper ]\Iercer Ore and Limestone. 

Upper Mercer Coal (3a). 

Upper [Mercer Clay. 

Sandstone or Shale. 

Lower ]\Iercer Ore and Limestone. 

Lower Mercer Coal (Seen on hill at Junction 

is)- 

Lower Mercer Clay. 
7. Block Ore of Junction City. 
6. Massilon Sandstone and Shale. 

Ouakertown Coal (Found in Mondaycreek 
north of Maxville). 
4. Sandstone. 
3. Sharon Coal. 

Conglomerate. 
I. Sub-Carboniferous Limestone (Maxville). 
(Courtesy, S. W. Pasco). 

Limestones. 

The geological basis of Perry coimty is the Sub- 
carboniferous or Maxville Lime. The geological apex 
is the Ames Limestone that is found on the tops of the 
hills in Bearfield and Monroe townships. In all, our 
county carries six principal limestones. In the order 
of their ascending scale they are : 

1. The ]^Iaxville (white). 

2. Zoar (blue). 

3. Hanging Rock (gray). 

4. Shawnee (buff). 

5. Cambridge (black). 

6. Ames ( crinoidal ) . 



90 



isroKV OF I'KRK^' cou^"r^■. 



There are several accessary seams but they are un- 
important. 

Rut httle is known of the Alaxville Lime. It shows 
in l)ut a few isolated patches, and its appearance is 
varied in the different exposures. The Maxville ex- 
posure, however, is the most characteristic. It is of a 
white or liijht drab color, very fine .c^rained and breaks 
with a conchoidal fracture, which makes it valuable 
for lithoi^raphic stone. It contains ninety per cent, 
carbonate of lime and can therefore be titilized for 
plaster and furnace flux. It is a stratum of about ten 
feet and lies exposed in the bed of the creek. It has 
been used for plasterino- purposes for over half a cent- 
ury. (See Lime Kilns). 

When Raird Furnace was built, the lime from Max- 
ville was hauled a distance of three miles, where it was 
used as flux for the furnace. The ]\Iaxville deposit is 
not rich in fossils, but when found they are usually 
very fine s]:)ecimens. The sub-carboniferous Lime has 
also been ([uarried in Readini^ townsliip near the Mays- 
ville pike. Tt is also found at Fultonham. 

LIST OF FOSSILS l-KO.M TIIF: >r.\XVILLF LIMF.STON'E. 

1. Zaphrentis. A small, undetermined, curved, 
conical species. 

2. Scaphiocrinus decadactylus. 

3. Productus pileiformis. 

4. TVoductus elegans. 

5. C'honetes. Undetermined species. 

6. -Vthvris subquadrata. 

7. Athvris trinuclea. 

8. .S])irifcr (Martinia) contractus. 

9. I^pirifer. rndelermined fra_i,nnents of perhaps 
two species. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 23 

10. Terebratula. An undetermined, small, oval 
species, showing the fine punctures under a lens. 

11. Aviculopecten. Undetermined species. 

12. Allorisma. Undetermined fragments, appar- 
ently like A. antiqua. 

13. Naticopsis. A small undetermined species. 

14. Straparollus perspectivus. 

15. Bellerophon sublsevis. 

16. Pleurotomaria. A small, undetermined cast. 

17. Nautilus. A small, undetermined, compressed, 
discoidal species, with very narrow periphery trun- 
cated. 

^8. Nautilus. A large, sub-discoid, undetermined 
species, with an open umbilicus, and only slightly em- 
bracing volutions, that are somewhat wider trans- 
versely than dorso-ventrally, and provided with a row 
of obscure nodes around, near the middle of each side. 

The writer, in company with Supt. DeLong, in the 
summer of 1901, found an excellent specimen of the 
last named fossil, at Maxville. 

About a hundred feet above the Maxville stratum 
is the very persistent horizon of the Zoar or the Blue 
Limestone. It has an average thickness of about three 
feet. It is not so compact as is that at Maxville and 
it weathers readily. It is of no use as a building stone 
and it is so rich in silica, that it cannot be utilized for 
furnace flux. In fact its silicious tendency is often so 
great that it is known as flint. It is highly fossilifer- 
ous and carries with it a great amount of iron. Where 
the iron predominates it has been mined for iron ore. 
This was the case at Junction City, where it was known 
as "block-ore." Its horizon is in the valley below Baird 
Furnace, from where it was first taken for flux. As it 



24 HISTORY OF PF.KRY COUNTY. 

proved a failure for that purpose, it was subsequently 
mined as block-ore and its iron extracted. 

The Hanging Rock or Gray Limestone is found 
throughout the southern part of the county, at least 
as far north as Bristol. Throughout the remainder, 
ot the county, it is represented by the Putnam Hill 
Limestone, which is quarried at New Lexington under 
the name of Flint or Chert. This lime is highly fer- 
riferous, and in many places is known as iron ore. 
^^'here it appears as such it has been designated as the 
Raird Ore and it is what was used at Baird Furnace 
and at others of the smelting works near the Perry 
county line. It lies about one hundred and ten feet 
above the Zoar Lime and is quite persistent. We find 
its horizon at McCuneville where it is denominated 
''bastard lime." 

Something over a hundred feet above the Gray 
Limestone we find the BufT, Shawnee or Upper Free- 
port. It is rich in carbon and was therefore used as 
a flux in the Shawnee furnaces. It is only a few feet 
in thickness, is non-fossiliferous, and carries several 
accessory seams which are better known as iron ores. 

The Cambridge Limestone is a fossiliferous stra- 
tum of about two feet. It is often known as flint and 
this is especially true in our county. It is found in tlie 
eastern townshi])s and its most westward outcrop is 
north of Rehoboth in Clayton township. It was this 
lime that was used in paving the streets of Crooksville. 

The Ames Limestone almost misses Perry county. 
In the extreme eastern part we find it only on the very 
tops of the highest hills. It is highly fossiliferous, 
consisting mostly of crinoid stems. It is from this 
fact that it is called by geologists "crinoidal lime- 
stone." 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 25 

Iron Ores. 

With the exception of the Ames Limestone, each 
of the six strata mentioned in the foregoing, carries 
with it an iron ore. In fact iron often substitutes itself 
for the Hme. There are, however, some other seams 
of iron ore in the county, since we have not less than 
fourteen well recognized strata. 

The first one we find in the scale is at Maxville, 
where it lies over the Sub-carboniferous Lime. The 
same stratum can be found in the same relative posi- 
tion in Reading and Madison townships. This ore is 
known as the Maxville Block. 

Lying about fifteen feet below the Zoar Limestone 
is found the Lower Main Block Ore. This was mined 
extensively at Junction City. 

Just over the Zoar Limestone is a seam that is 
always present but at times so thin that it is not work- 
able. It is the most widely distributed ore of the 
Hanging Rock District. Its name is the Main Block 
Ore. 

About thirty feet above the latter can be found a 
valueless vein in the most of our hills. It is sometimes 
called tlie Rough Block Ore. 

I'"rom ten to twenty feet above the last named, an- 
other Block Ore occurs. It is carried by the Gore 
Limestone, an accessory of the Zoar. We find this 
seam in the extreme south of the county. At Mc- 
Luneville tlie lime with it is almost an ore in itself, 
since it contains twenty per cent metallic iron. 

Thirty feet higher in the scale, in the south of the 
county, is the vein that corresponds to the Putnam Hill 
Limestone at Xew Lexington. At the latter place 



26 HISTORY OF PKRKY COUNTY. 

about ten feet below tbe Lime is a kidney ore which 
is its accessory. 

The next vein is the Limestone Kidney Ore. It 
can be found at McCuneville in connection with a lime, 
wnence its name. 

The most important of all our ores comes next. 
It rests upon the Hani^ing' Rock Limestone. It is bet- 
ter known, however, as the Baird Ore. It was the one 
most i^enerally used, since at one time, more than sixty 
furnaces in southern ( Jhio utilized it. 

.\1)ove this is the Black Kidney which is not always 
present. It occurs in patches and is of little value in 
our county. 

i'assing" above the Great Coal Seam and closely 
connected with the Norris Lime is an ore by the same 
name. 

Thirtv feet in ascent brings us to the ore invested 
with the Shawnee Limestone. It has been mined 
extensively at New Straitsville. and has received its 
name therefrom. 

The Sour Apple Ore received a Perry County ap- 
pellation because of the presence of an apple tree near 
its outcrop in the neighborhood of Moxahala. It was 
laden with luscious looking fruit, but the members of 
the Geological Survey were somewhat disappointed 
when they tested it. 

The greatest of all our ore deposits is the one that 
lies about one hundred and fifteen feet above the Great 
Coal Seam. Its general name is the Black Band. It 
is locally named the Iron Point or the Bowman Hill 
Ore. It was mined at Bristol. Moxahala, and also 
on the Hone farm east of New Lexington. Its aver- 
ai.''e thickness was found to l)c from three to five feet. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 27 

In many places it showed a frontag'e of seven and eight 
feet. 

There are a few unimportant strata in connection 
with the Cambridge Lime. They are for the most part 
valueless in our county. 

Coals. 

The lowest coal measure in our county is the 
Sharon, overlying the conglomerate of the Sub-car- 
boniferous Limestone. Its outcrop can be seen in the 
bed of Mondaycreek, northeast of Maxville. It is usu- 
ally a thin vein but in Section 14, Hopewell township, 
there is a small area that can be mined. It must be 
remembered that the Maxville Limestone can be seen 
topping the hill above Glenford on the farm of Plum 
Reed. ^ 

The Quakertown is the next seam in the ascending 
scale. It lies about fifty feet above the Sharon and is 
very thin. It can be seen in the ravines of western 
Mondaycreek and Jackson townships. At times it has 
been found to be two feet in thickness and farmers 
have quarried it. 

Connected wath the Lower Mercer Limestone is a 
thin stratum of coal which has received the same name. 
It is less than a foot thick. 

Above this is the Upper Mercer which is known in 
many places as the "16-inch vein." 

The Tionesta Coal (3b) is found on Coalbrook in 
Mondaycreek wliere it has been known for years as 
Cannel Coal. It is rich in oil and has a thickness of 
two feet. The outcrops of this coal are also found 
throughout southern Jackson. 

Twenty feet above the Putnam Hill Limestone is a 
vein often wanting. It is from eighteen to twenty-twa 



28 IIISIORV OF PERR\- COlX'i'N'. 

inclies thick and of a g-ood quality. In the clay l)ank 
at the Xew Lexins^ton Brick Plant and several miles 
north of this point the horizon is plainly shown. It 
lies beneath the Ferriferous or Baird Ore. In the ore 
•dis^gings in Mondaycreek it was often found. 

We now -come to the workable coal measures. The 
Lower Kittanning may be considered the base of such 
coals. It is known by- different names — No. 5, Lower 
New Lexinsrton, and Lower Moxahala. It has been 
mined at Xew Lexington and is now mined at Nugent- 
ville and Redfield. At Bristol Tunnel it was worked 
in the same hill with the No. 6 above it, and was loaded 
over the same tipples. It is about four feet thick and 
is a valuable steam coal. 

The most general coal and the one most valuable 
is the Great Coal Vein or Middle ( Upper ) Kittanning. 
This is the seam mined at Shawnee, Xew Straitsville, 
Coneo and Baird Furnace, where its thickness is from 
ten to fourteen feet. At Dicksonton, McCuneville, 
McLuney and along the C, S. & H. R. R. in Bearfield 
township it is only about four feet. It is known too 
as the L'ppcr Xew Lexington. 

In many places, about fifty feet above the Great 
Vein, is often found the mere tracings of a seam. It 
is the Lower Freeport or 6a. In Perry county it is 
locally known as the Norris Coal, because it was for- 
merly mined at Alillertown by a man of that name. 
It often reaches a maximum thickness of six feet but 
it usually is much less. 

The Upper Freeport Coal is not known in the 
western or northern part of the county. It is a seam 
of about five feet and is mined at Hamburg. Its local 
name is the Stallsmith. Its rank in the series of coals 
is No. 7. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 29 

On the tops of the hills in the southeastern part of 
the county is often noticed a thin streaking of coal 
"blossom." It is the horizon of Coal No. ja. This is 
the highest of tl^e coal strata in the county. This seam 
was once mined near Chapel Hill under the name of 
the "patriot coal." 

Buried Channels. 

The Ohio strata of rocks are usually persistent. 
There have been no orological convulsions to twist the 
strata from where they were originally deposited. The 
general dip to the south east is regular. Any departure 
from the established method is apt to cause consider- 
able conjecture. Borings for coal have revealed the 
fact that often it is absent or very thin. The cause of 
this is. in many cases, the presence of an ancient chan- 
nel, now buried under the silt of subsequent ages. 
Wlien the water poured through these channels, just 
after the Carboniferous Age, it eroded through the 
coal measure and carried it away, just as our streams 
are doing to-day. In the course of time these chan - 
nels were filled with gravel and sand — by the setting 
back of the water in them and the stopping of their 
currents. All through southern Ohio there is ample 
evidence of these ancient water courses, showing that 
they are continuous and connected, forming a system 
of drainage. The Muskingum River runs in a great 
measure over such a buried channel. This has been 
discovered by building dams in the river. Our county 
has such a water course. The diagram on the map 
shows its approximate course, without its tributaries. 
Many tracts of land where coal was supposed to exist 
have been found to be utterly destitute of that mineral. 
The miners at the Congo mine frequently find that the 



30 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

coal is absent. We are thus able to follow the devious 
windings of this ancient stream, that plowed its way 
through the strata, when old IMother Earth was some- 
what younger than now. 

Clays. 

Clay is the product of the decomposition of felspar 
through the agency of the atmosphere. There are two 
classes of clays and both are represented in our county, 
viz : clays proper, and shales. All shale becomes clay 
when moistened. Soap-stone is a clay stone and slate 
is only a harder variety of the same substance. 

As to varieties, clays may be divided into Fire Clay, 
Potters Clay and Brick Clay. There are no less than 
a dozen well recognized strata of clays in Perry county, 
all of which are workable. All varieties are repre- 
sented. Their relative positions may be seen by ex- 
amining the vertical sections of horizons in different 
parts of the county. Many of these seams arc of great 
thickness and the supply is inexhaustible. 

Petroleum and Gas. 

The Oil and Gas field is in the Townships of 
Monroe, Pleasant and Bearfield. The surface of this 
territory lies in the Lower Productive and Lower Bar- 
»ren Coal Measures. As has been stated in previous 
topics, the Ames Limestone has its horison on the tops 
of the hills. The Sundaycreek valley, which is the 
deepest in the neighborhood, cuts its way through the 
Great Coal Vein north of Corning. Corning, itself, is 
at the level of the Upper Freeport Coal. 

The oil is found in the Berea sand, which has been 
found to have an average thickness of about 30 feet. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 31 

Through the courtesy of Mr. Geo. DeLong, the fol- 
lowing "log" of a well drilled on his lot in Corning 
is given. The top of the well lies at the base of the 
Mahoning Sandstone. The elevation is practically 
the same as given for the Corning Depot. (See ele- 
vations). 

Thickness Total 

of Stratum. Thickness. 

Feet. Feet. 

Shale 25 25 

Bastard Lime 15 40 

Sand 10 50 

Coal (No. 6) 10 60 

White Slate 65 125 

Sand 15 140 

White Slate 25 165 

Blue 10 175 

Sand 10 185 

Slate 55 235 

Shale 35 270 

Sand 30 300 

Black Shale 10 310 

Lime 25 335 

Shale with Concretions 100 435 

Slate 25 460 

Limestone (?) 30 490 

Shale 35 525 

Salt Sand 30 555 

White Slate 100 655 

Slate and Concretions 25 680 

Shale 15 695 

Little salt sand 20 715 

White slate 100 815 

Slate and Concretions 100 915 

Brown Shale 40 955 

Black Shale 38 993 

Top Berea 993 

Bottom of Berea 1 ,008 



32 JliS'lOKV OF I'KKKV tOlW TN'. 

The Berea sand is of a lip^ht gray color, tine 
grained, and usually a pure quartz. The "pay streak" 
or the part containing the oil and gas ranges in thick- 
ness from 3 to 8 feet. 

The wells are cased through the salt sand at a depth 
of ahout 555 feet. The amount of salt water found in 
the Corning field, especially in the eastern part, is 
wonderful. It seems to have some effect on the gas 
pressure. The western part of the field, in the vicinity 
of Oakfield, is practically free from salt water. Here 
is where the strongest gas poducing wells are. 

Near Junction City has been bored the deepest 
well in the county. It reached the Clinton Limestone 
at a depth of 3090 feet. It is in the Clinton rock 
that gas is found in the Sugar Grove field. The fol- 
lowing is the approximate depth and thickness of 

the various strata. 

Feet. 

To the Berea sand 826 

Thickness of the Berea, to the shale 40 

Thickness of sahle to the Niagara 1 . 154 

'I'hickness of Niagara to Shale 930 

Shickness of shale to Clinton 140 

The Clinton is about 30 feet thick. A small 
amount of oil was found in this rock. 

Saltlicks. 

Our county is moderately well supplied with Salt- 
licks. The largest and best known is the one at Mc- 
Cuneville. Near Raird Furnace, 'in Mondaycreek, 
on Salt Creek, is another one. but it is small. At the 
"Lick School House" in Clayton is another. Likewise 
there is one in Harrison. Several smaller ones are 
to be found in various parts of the county. Salt water 
is found in abundance in all of our oil and gas wells. 





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LIDEY'S ROCKS. 




THE BIG SASSAFRAS. 



HISTORY OF PERKY COUNTY. 3S> 

Lidey's Rock. 

Among the bits of Natural scenery in our county 
is Lidey's Rocks, in southern Reading township. The 
wildness and picturesqueness of the scene is in sharp 
contrast to the surrounding country. Here a small 
stream has eroded the rocks in such a way as to give 
a person a very good idea of how the water can chisel 
in minature, thousands of fantastic forms. 

These rocks served at one time as a shelter for 
hunting parties of Indians. Under one of the ledges- 
of rock can yet be seen the mortar in which they 
cracked their hominy. This locality is now a favorite 
resort for picnic parties. 

The High Rocks. 

Near the Old Stone Fort at Glenford, is quite a 
beautiful example of the erosive power of water. The 
rocks here belong to the conglomerate series that over- 
lies the Sub-carboniferous or Maxville Limestone. At 
this place the water has eroded the softer portions 
away and has left standing tall, Titanic-like pillars 
that are at least seventy feet in height. The cause- 
ways between these masses of rock wind about in 
devious ways and thereby lend to the enchantment 
of the place. These rocks are seldom visited, but 
they deserve more attention, for in many ways they 
surpass Lidey's Rocks. 

The Bear Dens. 

In southern Jackson township are the Bear Dens. 
The mass of sand rock has been left here in a miscel- 
laneously confused heap. There is beneath one of 
these rocks, a narrow opening which leads to a series 
3 H. p. c. 



34 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

of large chambers. It is asserted by old settlers that 
it was once the haunt of numerous bears when Bruin 
was monarch of the Perry county woods and wan- 
dered through its mazes in search of mast and wild 
honey. 

Why Rushcreek Bottom is so Flat. 

In going from New Lexington toward Bremen, one 
can not help but notice how near to the tops of the 
hills Rushcreek is. On either side of this valley, the 
creeks have cut their channels much deeper. Lower 
Rushcreek is especially flat and marshy, while its en- 
tire course is subject to frequent inundations. The 
reason of this is apparent when we examine the soil 
n^etween Junction City and Bremen. 

The soil of bottom lands is always the same as that 
"of the hilis, lining either side. Such is not the case 
with Rushcreek. This soil is that of the neighborhood 
between Rushville and Pleasantville. It accordingly 
contains considerable "till" and other "drift" materi- 
als. At Rushville, Big Rushcreek "rushes" through a 
~break in the hill which it has made. The narrow pass- 
age would cause the water to run swifter at this place. 
-Reaching the flat territory, just south of this "break," 
the water would spread in every direction. Little 
Rushcreek would consequently receive a considerable 
share of this back-water, with its accompanying silt. 
The water then subsiding very slowly would leave the 
detritus behind. In this way it is estimated that lower 
Rushcreek valley was filled to a height of sixty feet. 



HISTUKV OF PERRY COUNTY. 35 

The Mastodon. 

The fact that the remains of many Mastodons have 
been found in Ohio, leads us to the opinion that Perry 
county must have known about these immense moun- 
tains of flesh. After the Ice Age, a dense growth of 
vegetation sprang up. The Mastodon being herbiv- 
brous would naturally seek for places where food 
was abundant. Northern Perry would be of especial 
-salue to him. The land was swampy ; the vegetation 
was of quick growth, thus making it toothsome. It is 
m such places that the remains have been found. 

We may be sure that one of his kind once browsed 
in Thorn township, near the Big Swamp. Parts of 
his skeleton have been found along Jonathan's Creek. 
Eleven of his teeth, weighing from ten to seventeen 
pounds each, adorn the private museums of their find- 
ers. A part of a rib, measuring about forty inches has 
been picked up in the alluvial plain of the Moxahala. 
As the stream changes its course, other parts of the 
frame of this ancient Perry county citizen may be 
unearthed. 

Since the above was written, the author has learned 
that the tooth of one of these mammoth creatures was 
picked u]) in the neighborhood of Chapel Hill*. 

Birds of Perry County. 

1. lUack Throated Loon — • Gavia arcticus. 

2. American Merganser — - Merganser Ameri- 
canus. 

3. Hooded Merganser — Lophodytes cucullatus. 

4. Mallard — Anus boschas. 

5. P)lack Duck — Anas obscura. 



36 IllSrORV OF PERRY COUNTY. 

6. Ciadwell — Chaulclasmus strepera. 

7. Baldpate — Mareca americana. 

8. Green-winged Teal — Nettion carolinensis. 

9. Rlue-winged Teal — Ourquedula discors. 

10. Cinnamon Teal — Ourquedula cynoptera. 

11. Shoveller — Spatula clypeata. 

12. Pintail — Dafila acuta. 

13. Wood Duck — Aix Sponsa. 

14. Redhead — Ay thy a americana. 

15. Canvas Back — Aythya vallisneria. 

16. American Scaup Duck — Aythya marila. 

17. Lesser Scaup Duck — Aythya affinis. 

18. Ring-necked Duck — Aythya collaris. 

19. American Golden-eye — Clangula americana. 

20. Barrows" Golden-eye — Clangula islandica. 

21. Buffle-head — Charitonetta albeola. 

2.2. Ruddy Duck — Erasmatura jamaicensis. 

23. Lesser Snow Goose — Chen hyperborea. 

24. Greater Snow Goose — Chen hyperborea ni- 
valis. 

25. Blue Goose — Chen caerulescens. 

26. American White- fronted Goose — Anser albi- 
frons gambeli. 

2^. Canada Goose — Branta Canadensis. 

28. -Brant — Branta bernicla. 

29. Sandhill Crane — Grus mexicana. 

30. Virginia Rail — Rallus virginianus. 

31. American woodcock — Philohela minor. 

32. Wilson's Snipe — Gallinago delicata. 

33. American Golden-plover — Charadrius do- 
minicus. 

34. Kildeer — Aegialitis vocifera. 

35. Bob-white — Colinus virginianus. 

36. Ruffled Grouse — Bonasa umbellus. 



HISTORV OF PERRY COUNTY. 



37 



T^y. Wild Turkey — Meleagris£^all opavo fera. 

38. Mourning Dove — Zenaidura macroura. 

39. Turkey Vulture — Cathartes aura. 

40. Marsh Hawk — Circus hudsonuis. 

41. Red-Tailed Hawk — Buteo borealis. 

42. Broad-winged Hawk — Buteo platypterus. 

43. Pigeon Hawk — Falco Columbarius. 

44. American Sparrow Hawk — Falco sparverius. 

45. American Barn Owl — Strix pratincola. 

46. American Coot — Fulica americana. 

48. Short-eared Owl — Asio accipitrinus. 

49. Screech Owl — Megascops asio. 

50. Great Horned Owl — Bubo virginianus. 

51. Snowy Owl — Nyctea nyctea. 

52. Black-billed Cuckoo — Coccyzus erythroph- 
thalmus. 

53. Belted King-fisher — Ceryle alcyon. 

54. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker — Sphyrapicus va- 
rius. 

55. Red-headed Woodpecker — Melanerpes ery- 
throcephalus. 

56. Northern Flicker — Colaptus auratus luteus. 

57. Whip-poor-will — Antrostomus vociferus. 

58. Nighthawk — Chordeiles virginianus. 

59. Chimney Swift — Chaetura pelagica. 

60. Ruby-throated Hummingbird — • Trochilus co- 
lubris. 

61. Kingbird — Tyrannus tyrannus. 

62. Crested Flycatcher — Myiarchus crinitus. 

63. Blue Jay — Cyanocitta cristata. 

64. American Crow — Corvus americanus. 

65. Bobolink — Dolichonyx oryzivorus. 

66. Cowbird — Molothrus ater. 



38 



HISTORY OF ['KKin- (OINTY. 



67. Yellow-headed ]*)lackl)ir(l — Xanthocephalus 
xanthocephalus. 

68. Red-win.e^ed Blackbird — Agelaius phoeniceus. 
Meadowlark — Sturnella magna. 
Orchard Oriole — Icterus spurius. 
Baltimore Oriole - — Icterus galbula. 
Rusty Blackbird — Scolecophagus carolinus. 
Purple Finch — Carpodacus purpureus. 
American Goldfinch — Astragilinus tristis. 
Tree Sparrow — Spizella monticola. 
Swamp Sparrow — Melospiza georgiana. 
Cardinal — Cardinalis cardinalis, 
Rose-breasted Grosbeak — Zamelodia ludo- 



69 
70 

71 
72 

73 

74 
75 
76 

77 

vician 

79 
80 
8r 
82 

83 

84 

85 
86 

87 
88 

89 
90 
91 
92 

93 

94 

linus. 

95 
96 

97 



Scarlet Tanager — Piranga erythromelas. 
Purple Martin — Progne subis. 
Barn Swallow — Hinmdo erythrogaster. 
Tree Swallow — Tachycineta bicolor. 
Bank Swallow — Clivicola riparia. 
Water Thrush — Seiurus noveboracensis. 
Mockingbird — mimus polyglottos. 
Catbird — Galeoscoptes carolinensis. 
Brown Thrasher — Harporhynchus rufus. 
House Wren — Troglodytes aedon. 
Wood Thrush — Hylocichla mustelina. 
American Robin — Merula migratoria. 
Bluebird — Sialia sialis. 

Ring-necked Pheasant — Phasianus torquatus. 
English Sparrow — passer domesticus. 
Red-bellied Woodpecker — Melanerpes Caro- 

Chipping Sparrow — Spizella socialis. 
b^ield Sparrow — Spizella pusilla. 
Towhee — Pipilo crythrojihthahnus. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 39 

98. Indigo Bunting — Cyanospiza cyanea. 

99. Red-eyed Vireo — Vireo olivaceous. 
100. Yellow-throated Vireo — Vireo flavirons. 
loi. Blue-headed Vireo — Vireo solitarius. 

102. Yellow Warbler — Dendroica maculosa. 

103. Bald Eagle — Haliaectus leucocephalus. 

104. Downy Woodpecker — Dryobatespubescens 
rnedianus. 

105. Bronzed Grackle — Quiscalus quiscula aeneus. 

106. Great Blue Heron — Ardea caerula. Green 
Heron. 

107. Whooping Crane — Grus americana. 

108. Passenger Pigeon — Ectopistes migratorius. 

109. Kentucky Warbler — Geothylpis formosa. 

1 10. White-breasted Nuthatch — Sitta carolinensis. 

111. Tufted Titmouse — Parus bicolor. 

112. Wood Pewee — Contopus virens. 
I [3. Phoebe — Sayornis phoebe. 

Animals. 

The virgin forests of Perry county afforded ample 
haunts for all animals characteristic of this latitude. 
The woods were full of them. The bear was unques- 
tionably the undisputed monarch of the wilds, as he 
ambled over our hills and valleys. The panther was a 
close second in point of rule, as he crouched on the 
hmb of a giant oak, ready to spring upon the timid 
deer when the latter bounded through the underbrush. 
Wildcats and catamounts were plentiful. The wolf 
niade the night hideous with his cry. The smaller ani- 
mals, such as the fox, squirrel, rabbit, raccoon and 
opossum, fairly swarmed. Wild turkeys made this 
their feeding ground. Prairie chickens nested and 
brooded in the tall grass. Pigeons in countless num- 



40 HISTOKV ()|- I'l-.Kin' COINTY. 

bers roosted in the tree tops and scores of varieties of 
olher birds twittered and sano^ and made gay the forest 
world. In the creeks whole "fleets" of ducks were 
convoyed by their leader, while in the dark under- 
brush lay the deadly rattlesnake readv to sound his 
warning, or the copperhead to strike his fangs into 
the intruder. 

The Indian had not destroyed them all and long 
after the \yhite man came they were far from being 
scarce. 

Forests. 

With but few exceptions the entire area of our 
county was covered with forests. The oak was the 
giant, found in every part of the county. It was then 
as now, the most plentiful of our trees. The oak 
was not a favorite among the settlers of the county, 
because, before the days of saw-mills, timber that 
could be split more easily was utilized. The tall, ar- 
rowy poplars or tulip trees, thus came to be the prime 
favorite for building purposes. There v/ere "chestnut 
ridges" in every township. On the low lands, the pon- 
derous button-wood or plane-tree changed his coat 
twice a year. The walnut selected his habitat in the 
rich soil of the valleys. The shell-bark hickory annu- 
ally cast its fruitage on the ground. Grape vines 
threw their trellis work from l:)Ough to bough, and 
each year, paid their tribute to Mother Earth. Nestled 
in the coves of the hills were hundreds of sugars, 
through whose veins was coursing the saccharine fluid 
that had never as yet poured forth its fountain of 
sweetness. The buckeye grew along the creek banks 
in the southern townsliips. Cedars bastioned the rocky 
hill-sides of Madison where the Mo.xahala cut its way 
toward the sea. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 41 

The flora of the county was profuse. It is said that 
in the hills, west of Sugar Grove in Fairfield county 
are a greater number of plant species that can be found 
in any similar area in Ohio. Lying- contiguous -to that 
section, our county partakes of some of its abundance. 
Lily pads covered the Great Swamp, cranberries grew 
on its marshy banks, Jack-in-the-pulpits nodded be- 
neath their canopies, bulrushes grew on the creek bot- 
toms, while wild flowers bedecked the mossy ledges 
and sent out their "sweetness on the desert air." It 
was a dark, dense world, where only wild animals and 
wilder men could live. But through the uncounted 
ages, while empires and dynasties rose and fell, while 
men strutted about for their brief day on the stage of 
ancient civilization, the giants of our hills were making 
ready for the Pioneer's ax and the mould of the wood 
was gathering slowly for the plow of the Hero of the 
Forest, who, out of the experiences of the older times, 
should lay the foundations of a newer and stronger 
Commonwealth. 

The Big Sassafras. — What is said to be the larg- 
est sassafras tree in Ohio, grows in Section 13 Pike 
township, near the Dean schoolhouse on the Moxahala 
road. Its shape is more that of an oak or chestnut 
than a sassafras, which usually grows tall and crooked. 
This tree has a girth of over fourteen feet. 

Pre-Historic Race. 

"As o'er the verdant waste I guide my steed, 
Among the high rank grass that sweeps his sides, 
The hollow beating of his footsteps seems 
A sacrilegious sound. I think of those 
Upon whose rest he tramples. Are they here — 



42 HISTORY OF PERKY COUNTY. 

The dead of other days? And did the dust 
Of those fair sohtudes once stir with life 
And burn with passion? Let the mighty mounds 
That overlook the rivers, or that rise 
Iti the dim forest crowded with old oaks, 
Answer. A race, that has long since passed away. 
Built them; a disciplined and populous race 
Heaped with long toil, the earth, while yet the Greek 
Was hewing the Pentelicus to forms 
Of .symmetry, and rearing on its rock 
The glittering Parthenon. These ample fields 
Nourished their harvests; here their herds were fed. 
When haply by their stalls the bison lowed 
And bowed his maned shoulder to the yoke. 
All day the desert murmured with their toils. 
Till twilight blushed and lovers walked and wooed 
In a forgotten language, and old tunes. 
From instruments of unremembered form, 
Upon the soft winds a voice. The red man came — 
The roaming hunter-tribes warlike and fierce. 
And the mound builders vanished from the earth." 

— Bayard Taylor. 

"Who were the Mound Builders?" This in the 
minds of most people has never been satisfactorily an- 
swered except to the answerers theinselves. There 
are many theories extant. A few are plausible : many- 
are superlatively nonsensical. Most of the latter are 
hastily built deductions, based an fragmentary evi- 
dence. The remainder are evolved in the fertile and 
highly imaginative minds of theorists. The origin of 
the Pre-historic Race of America has been attrib- 
uted to every nation known to ancient civilization. It 
has been asserted that they came from the Nile ; that 
these transplanted Egyptians built the mounds in the 
western world, in rude coj^v of the pyramids in the 
land of the Lotus. 



\o^;'^""'';''''t/: 



6 

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V 

















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HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 43 

Others maintain that they were the lost Children of 
the tribes of Jacob. Some say they were Phoenicians ; 
others, Scythians ; while still others are equally cer- 
tain that they were of Welsh extraction. Voltaire had 
the evolutionary idea, that it isn't necessary to believe 
they came from anywhere ; that they were native to 
the soil the same as the beaver or the bison. 

It is not our intention to discuss any of these the- 
ories or attempt to answer the original question. It 
must be said, however, that the subject of archeology 
is being studied more systematically than ever and 
that men are analyzing the subject from a scientific 
standpoint, and that the "relic hunter" is not now being 
cited as authority. 

It is not out of place, however, to say here, that 
it is being generally conceded that the mounds and 
earthworks left by these unknown people are not so 
old as was formerly believed ; that the Mound Builder 
and Indian do' not belong to different races ; and that 
the Mound Builders were not such a highly civilized 
race as has been thought. We have been able to learn 
only a few of the things concerning these people. All 
else is conjecture. We know only, that somebody at 
some time built these strange works. We can only 
look at them and wonder. 

These people lived in our county. They built their 
mounds and fortifications. We can but describe them 
as we find them, then the reader can draw his own con- 
clusions. That will be satisfactory to him at least. 

There are over a hundred mounds, fortifications, 
earthworks and village sites in Perry Co'unty. The 
most interesting and best known of these is the ''Stone 
Fort" at Glenford. This fortification belongs to the 
class of "Hill-top Enclosures," and is the best example 



/4'!: HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

of its kind in the state. Caleb Atwater came over from 
Circleville about 1840 and then published a glowing 
description of it in the first book ever written on Ohio 
Archaeology. Arch?eologists from all over the land 
have visited here and the concensus of opinion is that 
it is one of the most wonderful of fortifications. This 
enclosure was evidently erected for defensive purposes. 
Its area is a fraction over 27 acres. It is made en- 
tirely of stone. The pieces are of various sizes. None 
are larger than what can be easily carried and many 
are much smaller. The present condition of the walls 
shows only a win-row of stones. Many have been 
hauled away. When originally built the wall must 
have averaged from seven to ten feet in height. The 
entire length of the rampart is 6,610 feet. Within the 
enclosure is a stone mound, 100 feet in diameter and 
12 feet high. 

No stones are found within the enclosure. They 
were evidently utilized in building the work. 

Whoever it was that erected this wall, certainly 
''knew their business." They took advantage of the 
natural surroundings. The hill upon which it was built 
is something over 200 feet above the creek level. The 
sides of this hill are covered with the conglomerate that 
overlies the sub-carboniferous limestone. This same 
stone composes the cap-rock of the hill. Where its 
stratum appears, water has eroded deep embrasures, 
thus forming natural passage ways. The loose stones 
were heaped along the edges of the solid rock, so in- 
creasing the height. With the exception of the south- 
eastern corner, the hill has no connection with the sur- 
rounding hills. The top could only be reached by 
climbing the blufifs. At the point, or corner before 
mentioned, there is a narrow, depressed ridge, leading 




1111-: WILSON MOUND. 
(Courtesy of Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society.) 




THE ROBERTS MOUND. 
(Courtesy of Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society.) 



JIISTOKV OF PERRY COINTV. 'IS' 

to higher pround, beyond. On this higher ground is 
the Wilson Mound, i8 feet high and covering one 
acre of ground. From the Wilson Mound can be seen 
the earth enclosure to the north and the Roberts 
Mound, east of Glen ford. The easiest approach to 
the fort would have been by the Wilson Mound. The 
builders, however, took the extra precaution to dig a 
circular moat and to build a wall to protect this point. 
The diameter of this moat-enclosure is about 150 feet. 
Good springfs of water are easily reached from the 
fort. Characteristic flint and stone implements have 
been found in abundance. If this fort were built for 
defense there certainly were no bloody battles fought, 
or the cemetery would be present. At Fort Ancient 
in Warren County, are two burial places. — one within 
and one without the fort. None has ever been dis- 
covered at the Stone Fort. 

The Wilson Mound, mentioned above, is one of the 
best in the county. It belongs to the "Platform" class 
of mounds. It has never been thoroughly explored. 
Several shafts were sunk intO' it and it was found that 
tlie mound was at least half stone. Many of the stones 
showed signs of fire. A considerable amount of ashes 
and red clay was found, through which were mingled 
scraps of bone and pieces of mica. 

The Roberts Mound, east of Glenford, is the larg- 
est east of the Scioto River. This structure is 120 feet 
in diameter and 2^ feet high. There are no trees upon 
it, but old settlers say that sixty-five years ago a very 
large white oak grew upon its crest. This mound is 
remarkable because a layer of large flat stones was 
found under the earth and lining the walls. This was 
for the purpose of holding the wall and preventing 



46 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

wash. In this mound were found skeletons partly 
cremated. 

Just north of Glenford on a hill about lOO feet in 
height, is a fortification and several mounds. South 
of the fortification is a circle enclosing a bird with 
wings outspread. This circle is 652 feet in circumfer- 
ence, 31 feet wide and 4 feet high. The Gateway, 23 
feet wide, faces toward the north. The bird effigy 
from head to tip of tail is 48 feet ; one wing is 122 feet 
while the other is iii feet. The body is 20 feet wide. 
The total length from tip to tip is 253 feet. Excava- 
tions were made in the bird effigy^ and ashes were 
found. 

The flint instruments found in the county were all 
made of Flint Ridge material. Nearly every knoll in 
the northern part of the county was a workshop. The 
Perry County mounds do not show the high degree 
ot advancement that the pre-nistoric inhabitants of the 
Scioto region evinced. No copper and very little mica 
has ever been found in our mounds. Everything 
points to their belonging distinctively to the stone age. 
At New Lexington could be seen in the flint quarries, 
places where these former citizens of Perry Count v 
secured and shaped the raw material. 

The presence of the Mound Builders in our county 
is shown by the following: 

Thorn Township has 3 circles, 22 earth mounds, i 
village site, i mound group, i enclosure. 

Hopewell, 10 mounds, 3 enclosures. 

Madison, 3 earth mounds. 

Reading, 15 earth mounds, i village site. 

Clayton, 4 earth mounds. 

Jackson, 2 earth mounds, i stone mound, i village 
site. 







cA- 



•A 



m 




HISTORY OF Pl'lRRV COL'NTV. 47 

Pike, 3 earth mounds. 

Saltlick, I earth mound. 

Monroe, i earth mound, i stone mound. 

Mondaycreek, 3 earth mounds, i village site. 

Harrison, 5 earth mounds. 

Reference has been made to the fact that the pre- 
historic race belono^ed to the Stone Age of civiliza- 
tion. The material from which they fashioned their 
implements came from various sources. The "Drift 
Region" was amply capable of furnishing all of the 
granite needed for their axes, celts and gouges. The 
only difference between a stone axe and a celt is that 
the axe has a groove for fastening a split stick for a 
handle, while the celt has no such groove. The latter 
was used with the hand alone, for stripping the skins 
from animals or dividing bones at the joints. They 
were often made from hematite which could be pro- 
cured in southwestern Ohio or West Virginia. The 
pestle made from granite is a common find. It is often 
conical or bell-shaped, made to fit the hand. Its use is 
•too manifest to enter into a description. Corn has 
been found in these mounds. We conclude, therefore, 
that one use of these implements was to crack that 
grain. 

Small pieces of hematite, slate and quartz are often 
found, with grooves cut into their edges, or in the case 
of slate, a hole is perforated. These were probably 
used as sinkers, for the Mound Builders really fished. 
Bone fish hooks have been found in abundance, not in 
our county, particularly, but in the Scioto Valley. 

One of the interesting productions of these people 
is the ceremonial stones made of slate. They are of 
various shapes but usually flat. They are, with but few 
exceptions, perforated. They are known by the dif- 



48 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

ferent names of Gorgets and Banner Stones. Their 
purpose was evidently to be worn as amulets. 

Their greatest skill was manifested in the manu- 
facture of pipes. The variety of form and decoration 
was endless. They were made in effigy and symbolized 
something. The utilitarian idea was not only looked 
at but the art must be good as well. Possibly the 
smoking was better when the aesthetic side of their na- 
ture was appealed to. These pipes were made to rep- 
resent human heads, human heads on the bodies of 
birds, the wild cat, the otter, the buzzard, the eagle, 
the toad, ground hog, coiled rattlesnake, elk head, etc. 

The implements most commonly found in this 
county are the flint instruments. These consist of 
arrow-heads, knives, drills, etc. 

Flint is the generic name for di liferent forms of 
silicious matter, such as chalcedony, jasper, hornstone 
and chert. At Flint Ridge, beds of light and dark 
jasper are found. Chalcedony, with various tints of 
blue, red, brown, yellow, white and even green and 
purple, is plentiful. 

The manner of the mining of this was crude but 
ingenious. The soil was removed to the surface of 
the flint. In this was put a large fire. When the stone 
became hot, water was thrown upon it, causing it to 
shatter. By means of the repetition of this process 
and the use of hammers, the workman obtained his raw 
material. Bone hammers with flexible handles, and 
prongs of deer were then used to chip ofif the edges. 
At this they were certainly adept, when we consider 
the immense number that were manufactured. It is 
said that a modern Apache Indian could complete an 
arrow in about six minutes. 




KLJ.XT I.Ml'LKMENTS, ( )XE-F( )L'RTH SIZE. 
(Court;:sy of Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society.) 




HEMATITE OP..I EC'IS. ON'E-THIKn SIZE. 
(Courtesy of Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society.) 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 49' 

The Children of the Forest. 

It goes without saying that the forests of Perry 
County were at one time the hunting grounds of the 
Indian. The lack of navigable streams, possibly de- 
terred it from making for them a permanent home. 
The valleys of the Muskingum, the Scioto, the Miami 
and the Maumee were the chief centers of Indian popu- 
lation. The tide of Indian warfare had at different 
times given this region into either the hands of the 
Algonquins or Iroquois. When the white man first 
penetrated the Ohio solitudes, he found the Shawne ;s 
on the banks of the Scioto, the Wyandots on the San- 
dusky and the Delawares on the Muskingum. At a 
little later date, we find Wyandots on the lower Mus- 
kingum and on the Hock-Hocking. It seems that a 
portion of the Sandusky Wyandots must have crept 
through between the Delawares and the Shawnees and 
made their abode partially in southeastern Ohio. By 
looking at a map it will be seen that Perry County 
was in their pathway. The result is that several of 
the most important "trails" with their tributaries passed 
through our county. It is certain that Perry County 
furnished excellent hunting-grounds. Our woods 
were heavily timbered, our valleys and rocky caverns 
furnished excellent retreats for game. Our streams 
were full of fish. There were wild turkeys on Turkey 
Run, wild pigeons at Pigeon Roost and bears on Bear 
Run. There were wild ducks at the Great Swamp, 
while the timid deer placidly slaked his thirst in our 
brooks or sought the "salt-licks" in the valleys. We 
can clearly see why the sombre colored native would 
long to linger in these "happy hunting-grounds 
making side excursions from the regular beaten "trail." 
4 H. p. c. 



50 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

They were no douht as successful in capturing that 
"big" fish with a bone hook as our modern Isaac Wal- 
tons are with the latest improved "tackle." They 
probably had as big stories to tell, too, when they 
reached home. As to shooting, our Nimrods with 
their Winchesters would be put to shame. 

Buffalo "Trails" — The first road makers in our 
country were the buffaloes. Their immense bodies, 
together with their countless numbers served to beat 
a path through the forest. Their routes were along 
the hill-tops and the water divides. The Indian, true 
to Nature's instinct would doubtless have selected the 
same course. Whether it was because the road was 
partially made or for another reason, we do know, that 
the buffalo and the Indian "trails" are practically the 
same. There are reasons for this selection and it ap- 
plies with equal force to both Indian and buffalo. The 
summits of the divides were the driest. The winds 
sweeping over them usually left them bare of snow in 
winter. The hills were not so heavily timbered with 
undergrowth, and they offered excellent outlooks for 
an enemy. 

The Monongahela Trail — Perry county was 
traversed by an Indian "trail," however, before the 
Wyandots. The principal "trail" in the county wa.s 
the Monongahela of the Shawnees. The Wyandots 
used it later in part. It connected the Shawnee towns 
on the Scioto with the Monongahela Valley. It was 
the war path, or "through" route between the Shaw- 
nee nation and the nearest settlement of whites, which 
was in south-eastern Pennsylvania. Many white cap- 
tives were brought from Pennsylvania through Perry 
county, to the banks of the Scioto. This "trail" struck 
Jthe Muskingum at Big Rock, followed that stream till 




CEREMONIALS, GORGETS, BANNER STONES, ETC. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COLNTY. 51 

they came to Big Bottoms, near where the town of 
Stockport now is. xA.t this place the whites huiU a 
block-house (1790). The inmates were one day sur- 
prised and twelve persons massacred. From 'this 
place the "trail" crossed the ridges till it struck 
Wolf's creek, which it followed to its source, which 
is at Porterville on the boundary between Perry and 
Morgan counties. Here it followed the "divide" be- 
tween Jonathan and Sundaycreek and between Rush- 
creek and Mondaycreek throughout the county. 

The road now known as the Marietta and Lan- 
caster is in part located on the old Monongahela Trail. 
Later it was known as the Wyandot Trail. The 
Wyandots had a village at Marietta and one at Lan- 
caster, under the shadow of Mt. Pleasant. When tb.e 
state surveyed the old Lancaster and Ft. Harmar Road 
the one made by the Shawnees and Wyandots gave 
them the most direct route. 

Slunonce Run Trail — From this main "trail" there 
were several subordinates or "loops" that would lead 
out and then gradually merge back again. Of course 
the object was to scour the country more completely. 
There was one of these tributaries that left the main 
over in Alorgan county somewhere and reached our 
county in the neighborhood south of Corning, crossed 
Sundaycreek, went up through Monroe township 
following the stream known as Indian Creek west 
to its source, by way of Buckingham and Hemlock, 
passed through the low "gap" to Shawnee where they 
had a village. The stream at Shawnee is known as 
Shawnee Run and the town and stream stand as mon- 
uments to the redman in Perry county. It is plain 
why this route was selected. At McCuneville is the 
old "saltlick" where deer and buffalo were wont to 



52 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

.e^o. The Indian followed them for a two-fold purpose 
— to capture them and to get salt for himself. From 
McCuneville it crossed the ridge, past where the old- 
Stone Church now stands, till they reached Salt Run 
in Mondaycreek Township. Here was another "salt- 
lick." Near the source of one of the tributaries of this 
creek, they had a camping-place among some rocks. 
The object no doubt was to be close to the "lick" that 
they might watch for game. At this camping-place 
may yet be seen their hominy-mill. 

In a large rock is a hole shaped like an inverted 
cone. Here they cracked their corn by means of rock 
pestles. Many a time has the writer wdien a boy, left 
the horse standing in the corn row and gone down 
to this ancient "grist-mill" and in imagination, peopled 
the little valley with Indian hunters returning from the 
"lick" with deer slung across the shoulders and 
squaws sitting on that very rock, preparing corn for 
their meal of samp. After such flights it was pretty 
hard to get back again to the prosaic work of plowing 
corn. From here the trail went across the ridges to 
the headwaters of Little Mondaycreek, which was fol- 
lowed to a point below where Maxville now stands. 
Here are yet evidences of a camping place on the farm 
of D. Hardy. Crossing the next ridge we find another 
camp in what is known as Whiskey Hollow. Here 
they planted their corn and early settlers in Mondav- 
creek remembered when the Indians would come to 
plant and harvest their crop. From here the trace 
went over the ridge to one of the tributaries of Rush 
Creek and then for Lancaster or Tarhytown as the 
Indians called it. 

Flint Ridge Trail — This trail left the main route 
in the neighborhood of Porterville and struck for 




PIPES ATTACHED TO ANTLERS OF DEER. 




AN INDIAN " GRIST MILL." 



HISTORY OF PERKY COUNTY. 53 

Flint Ridge in Licking county. It is doubtful if this 
one touched Perry county. But it was very close to 
the Muskingum line. It passed through Roseville in 
Melick's Grove. It may have gone through a part of 
Madison township for it followed Jonathan's Creek. 
At Flint Ridge it joined another trail that led from the 
upper Muskingun to the Scioto. Again we can see 
why this route was selected. Flint Ridge was the 
flint quarry for all of the Indians between the Alle- 
ghenies and the Mississippi, with but a few unim- 
portant exceptions. Evidences can be seen of their 
labor on every hand. The flint of this place must 
have been of superior quality for arrow-making, for 
specimens of Flint-Ridge arrows have been found 
as far south as Tennessee. The flint forms the cap- 
rock of a hill for a distance of ten miles and almost 
its entire length is scarred with the trenches and pits 
left by the ancient diggers. 

Scioto-Beaver Trail — Another "trail" passed 
through Perry county. It was the Scioto-Beaver, in 
the northern part, just south of Buckeye Lake. No 
doubt Christopher Gist on his first trip through Ohio 
went over this trail. The townships of Thorn and 
Hopewell were the scenes of considerable activity 
among the "Children of the Forest." Stone imple- 
ments, arrow-heads and amulets have been found in 
great numbers. 

Moxahala Trail — This trail crossed the Muskin- 
gum at Zanesville and made its way through the coun- 
ty, by Sego, Somerset and Rushville to Lancaster. 
Zane's Trace approximately followed this pathway. 
It was however not well defined. The Indian hunter 
leaving the established beat would naturally take tl;e 
high ridge between Jonathan and Rushcreek. It must 



64 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

be regarded as a loop from the main Scioto-Beaver 
Trail. Jonathan's Creek or better the Moxahala was 
favorite grounds for the Indian hunter. The fact 
that it ploughs its way through limestone and offers 
frequent fording places, may be one reason for mak- 
ing it the crossing of the numerous trails. 

The Indian name " Moxahala " means " Elk's 
Horn." Look at your map and see why they called it 
by that name. We can also see why the Jonathan of 
Judge Spencer's " Legend of the Moxahala " built 
his rude cave on this creek. The intersection of the 
trails afforded him excellent opportunity to wreak his 
vengeance for the murder of wife and little ones. The 
story as told by Mr. Spencer is this : A man living 
with his family on Otsego Lake in the east, was at- 
tacked by the Indians. His wife and children were 
massacred, his house burned and he himself severely 
wounded. After recovering from his wounds, he set 
out for the west with the fire of revenge burning 
fiercely in his bosom. He vowed to kill every Indian 
he could. On the Moxahala in Madison township 
he built his hut among the limestones ledges and 
here with only his faithful dog he watched for the red 
man from his hiding place. He was discovered and 
his tragic death is beautifully told by Air. Spencer 
in the 

"the last conflict." 

The sun had set ; the crescent moon 
With halo wan had followed soon ; 
And Moxahala shadowed o'er 
By Buckeye, heech and sycamore. 
Flow'd gurgling 'neath the gloom of night ; 
And 'tween the leaves and rippled light, 
Look'd, trembling, here and there a gleam 
Of starlight on the dimpling stream. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 55 

With piercing glance and noiseless tread, 
Quick from his hut the hunter fled. 
(While Don, as stealthful, keeping nigh 
Glared fiercely round with savage eye) , 
For having crossed the woody vale, 
He came upon an Indian trail, 
And all his deadly peril felt; 
Well did he know the place he dwelt 
Was sought by Indians far and near — 
To wreak revenge — for many a year. 

The Shawnee chief had tracked the bear. 
At last, e'en to his hidden lair. 
And, stealing from the bosky glen 
With half a hundred ruthless men. 
Before 'twas his the foe to take, 
He mentally burned him at the stake 
For many a murdered warrior's sake. 
The red men, feeling sure the prey 
Was in his fastness brought to bay. 
Closed round the hut on every side: 
And some the fiery brand applied. 
While others, yelling, turn'd to bind 
The dreadful foe they sought to find. 
And rush'd within with tiger-bound — 
But, lo ! no captive there they found. 

Hark ! ringing on the midnight breeze 
Afar 'neath labyrinthian trees, 
A rifle shrieks with sulphurous breath 
Sending its message dire with death — 
The Shawnee chief with dying whoop 
Falls, quivering, midst the motly group. 
Ha ! now amazement dumb appals — 
A sharp report, — another falls — 
O pale-face Chief, away ! away ! 
Loud, fierce, resounds the deep-voiced bay 
Of ghoulish forms, a horrid pack. 
That, howling, bound upon your track 
With bow and spear, and gun and knife. 
And tomahawk to take your life ! 



56 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

Away — away — go, seek the cave 
Where oft before, your life to save, 
With mystery deep, you did elude 
The hordes that at your back pursued. 
Ah, hark ! They come with sounding tread 
And whoops that echo wild and dread ! 

Dewy, and fragrant breath'd and pale, 
Came morn, with wakening voice of bird 
And bee, and cool leaf-stirring gale, 
And squirrel's chirp, mid branches heard. 
'Twas on a hillside's bluffy edge, 
Where rocks stuck out with mossy ledge, 
Where wavy-scalloped ferns between 
The fissured rocks grew rich and green. 
And delicate flowers to us unknown 
Save — hid from man — in forests lone, 
Bloom'd 'neath the trees that, arching high, 
Shut out the azure summer sky. 

Where ivy wild and grapevines clung 
To drooping shrubs that overhung 
The lichen'd rocks and shady ground. 
Beneath the ledge a passage wound, 
That, to a cavern dark and small. 
Led through a jagged, narrow hall. 
There Jonathan the night before 
Escaped the Indians in his flight; 
He seem'd to vanish — be no more ! 
And they — with awe and sore affright 
And superstitious fancy fraught 
Deem'd 'twas a demon they had fought, 
And hied them homeward full of thought. 

But Jonathan lay cold and dead, 
The cavern-floor his rocky bed ; 
And on his bosom clotted o'er 
With oozy drops of clottish gore, 
A ball had left its circle red 
And in his back an arrow-head, 
With shaft prortuding, broke in two, 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 57 

Had proved its fatal guidance true. 
Yes, Jonathan, the pale-face Chief, 
Had found at last that sweet relief — 
Nepenthe for each earthly grief. 
And e'en o'er him one mourner kept 
His vigil — yea, and, haply, wept; 
For think not man alone can know 
The bliss of love, the pang of woe : — 
With paws upon his master's breast 
And plaintive howl of deep unrest. 
His lonely dog, though all unheard, 
Implored a look, a loving word, 
And lick'd his master's cheek and hand, 
And seemed to vaguely understand 
His soul was in a happier land." 

The White Man's Foot — By the Treaty of Green- 
ville in 1795 the Indians gave up their claim to the 
land that is now in Perry county and after the year 
1800 but few were seen within our boundaries. They 
were then usually straggling- parties who returned to 
their ancient hunting-grounds as if loath to leave. 
But the "white man's foot" had come and the days 
of the "cliildren of the forest" were numbered. 

"I beheld, too, in that vision 
All the secrets of the future. 
Of the distant days that shall be. 
I beheld the westward marches 
Of the unknown crowded nations. 
All the land was full of people, 
Restless, struggling, toiling, striving, 
Speaking many tongues, yet feeling, 
But one heart-beat in their bosoms. 
In the woodlands rang their axes, 
Smoked their towns in all their valleys, 
Over all the lakes and rivers 
Rushed their great canoes of thunder. 
Then a darker, drearier vision 
Passed before me, vague and cloud-like; 



58 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

I beheld our nations scattered, 
All forgetful of my counsels, 
Weakened, warring with each other; 
Saw the remnants of our people 
Sweeping westward, wild and woeful. 
Like the cloud-rack of a tempest. 
Like the withered leaves of autumn." 

The Last of his Race — It seems that the very last 
Indian seen in our cotnity was killed by the white 
settlers, in the neighborhood of New Lexington, after 
that village had been laid out. He. it appears, lingered 
about the place for some time, and when he left was 
followed by the civilized (?) white man, to the vicinity 
of Brier Ridge, at the T. & O. C. Tunnel, where he 
was shot. It might be well at this juncture to read 
Miss Francis' " Lone Indian " which we used to read 
at school out of the McGufifey Sixth Reader. 

Treaty of Fort Stanzuix — On October 27, 1784, 
a treaty was concluded, at Fort Stanwix, New York% 
with the sachems and the warriors of the Mohawks, 
Onondagas, Senecas, Cayugas, Oneidas. and the Tus- 
carawas. The Six Nations here ceded to the Coior.ial 
government all their claims to land in Ohio. General 
Lafayette was present at this treaty. 

Under the Banner of St. George. 

England claimed the whole of North America. She 
is never modest about her claims. She based her claim 
on the fact that John Cabot first discovered the conti- 
nent. England did very little in the way of explora- 
tion. That she thought herself the sole possessor of 
the New World is evidenced from the fact that the 
grants given to the colonies, especially Virginia, and 
Connecticut extended from "sea to sea." And in the 
case of Virginia from the wording of the charter it ex- 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 



59 



tended to the North Pole. It reached for two hundred 
miles "north and south of Point Comfort, up into the 
land, throughout, from the sea to the sea. west and 
northwest." Connecticut was given a strip, the width 
of the state from "sea to sea." As has been stated 
France, too, claimed the same land. The First Ohio 
Land Company in 1748 might be said to be the immedi- 
ate cause of the French and Indian War, which was 
possibly one of the best things that ever happened the 
colonies. It not only freed them from subsequent in- 
fluence of French institutions but it was the school 
where they learned how to write the Declaration of In- 
dependence. The battle of Quebec and the Treaty of 
1763 made Perry county a part of England's Royal 
domain and the banner of St. George, figuratively 
speaking, floated over the hills and valleys in Reading, 
Pike and Mondaycreek. 

Under the Lilies of France. 

Did it ever occur to you that at one time the Flag 
of France waved over Perry County? There may 
never have been really a flag of that nation planted on 
our hill-tops, but the Lilies of France kept watch over 
our silent forests from where they were planted on the 
steeple of some mission house or over the door of a 
French trading station. The claim of France to this 
territory was based upon the fact of her explorations. 
While neither England nor her colonies had ever given 
their consent to France utilizing the rivers and trade 
of the vast region yet France was in actual possession 
of it. As "possession is nine points of the law" we 
must consider that at one time if there had been white 
people here they would have really been subjects of 
the French kine. 



60 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

France had done four things that to her mind gave 
her an undisputed title to the region. The first was 
the sending of the Jesuit missionaries who wandered 
through the unbroken forests, dressed in their simple 
garb, exploring the rivers, and building mission 
chapels, from whose roofs went out to the natives 

"The sound of the church-going bell, 
The valleys and rocks never heard, 
Never sighed at the sound of a knell, 
Nor smiled when a Sabbath appeared." 

The second was the discoveries of LaSalle. Robert 
LaSalle, an ambitious young Frenchman, determined 
to find out something about the interior of the Amer- 
ican continent. In the year 1669 with a party of 
French he sailed over the waters of Lake Erie and 
crossing the portage of one of the three Ohio rivers 
that find their sources near the head waters of the 
streams that tlow into the Lake, he descended either 
the Muskingum, the Scioto or the Miami and reaching 
the Ohio was the first white man to sail over the bosom 
of the Oyo, the Beautiful River. That the French 
based their right of ownership on the explorations of 
LaSalle is evidenced from the answer of the haughty 
commandant at Quebec to the demand carried by 
Washington in 1753. "We claim the country on the 
Ohio by virtue of the discoveries of LaSalle, and will 
not give it to the English. Our orders are to make 
prisoners of every Englishman found trading in the 
Ohio Valley." 

Another reason for their claim was the reiteration 
of their title of possession. Eighty years after the 
voyage of LaSalle and only thirty years before the 
Second Mayflower landed on the banks of the Mus- 
Tsingum there floated down the Ohio a gorgeously ar- 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 61 

rayed fleet of boats. From the bow of one floating to 
the breeze was the flag of France. The founding of 
the Ohio Land Company the preceding year was no 
doubt the occasion for sending out one Louis Celoron, 
who crossing from Canada, embarked upon the Alle- 
gheny. Arrayed in his "pomp and circumstance," his 
companions clad in lace coats and doublets, he pro- 
ceeded in solemn ceremony and much ostentation, as 
only a Frenchman can, to bury certain leaden plates, 
that would forever set at rest the real ownership of the 
region drained by the Ohio and her tributaries. The 
plate testified that in the year 1749 it was buried as a 
monument of the renewal of possession. "His men 
were drawn up in order. Louis the XV was pro- 
claimed lord of all that region. The arms of France 
were stamped to a sheet of tin nailed to a tree; the 
plate of lead v/as buried at the foot, and the notary 
of the expedition drew up a formal act of the whole 
proceeding." This ceremony was gone through with 
at Wheeling, the source of the Allegheny, the mouth 
of the Muskingum, French Creek, the Kanawha, and 
the Great Miami. The plates at the Muskingum and 
the Kanawha were afterward found — the memorials 
of France's dream of an Empire in the New World. 

The last reason for their claim was the fact that 
France had actual possession O'f the territory. A chain 
of forts extended from Montreal to New Orleans. 
Their trading stations extended along that entire route. 
They had spied out the land and foresaw its possibili- 
ties in the way of trade. They never expected to col- 
o-nize it. This fact alone made the Indian a firm ally. 

The stories of fertile valleys, of navigable streams, 
and interminable forests had reached the practical ear 



&2 llISTOR^■ OP I'latRN' tOL'N'TV. 

of the Ang;lo-Saxon colonists, who saw utiHty in quite 
a different light. The French cotild not beHeve that 
their efforts in exploration would be of such little 
use to them and redound only to the good, of the Eng- 
lish. They made every effort to keep it a part of their 
royal possessions. The defeat of Braddock gave them 
temporary hope for its retention, but the fall of Quebec 
shattered their hopes and the Lilies of France ceased 
to wave over the hills of Ohio. 

In the Province of Quebec. 

The colonies that had land in the West had almost 
as much trouble in keeping off the encroachments of 
Great Britain as they had of France. It was but nat- 
ural that they should think that the French and Indian 
war was for the purpose of quieting the claims of the 
colonies over against France. In this, however, they 
were mistaken. England does not do things that way. 
They forbade the colonies to make settlements on these 
lands. Virginia and Pennsylvania were not inclined 
to obey. Parliament, therefore, to stop the encroach- 
ments, passed what is known as the Quebec Act. This 
act made all the land in what is now known as the 
Northwest Territory a part of the territory of Quebec. 
Thus Perry County was a second time a part of Can- 
ada, ruled by a Governor General. The colonists did 
not like it very well and Virginia paid but little atten- 
tion to it and never in her own mind thought that it 
ever belonged to anybody but herself. England's ob- 
ject in this was to keep down the growing power of the 
colonies, and by having this vast region a part of Can- 
ada, they hoped to maintain the Indians' allegiance, 
which they did to a certain extent. This action of 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 63 

(jreorge the Third was considered of such importance 
that in the Declaration of Independence it was made 
one of the grievances. 

Boutetorst County. 

Had your great-great-grandfather left Virginia in 
1770 and settled where Glenford now stands, his friends 
at home would have said that he had gone to live on the 
Moxahala in Boutetorst County. Virginia would not 
abide by the Quebec Act. The part she had taken in 
the French and Indian war she thought ought at least 
prevent her from losing her land that she obtained by 
charter. In 1769 her Legislature passed an "Act," 
placing the territory north of the Ohio and east of the 
Mississippi under her jurisdiction, as Boutetorst 
County. The next year George Washington floated 
down the Ohio to the mouth of the Great Kanawha to 
select 200,000 acres of land for his soldiers, or their 
widows, who had served with him in the French and 
Indian war. This is as near as he ever came to our 
county. It might be interesting to know that the Is- 
land of Blennerhasset, famous in history and story, was 
a part of this tract. While Virginia had. no doubt, the 
better claim to this territory, yet under this "Act" her 
jurisdiction was only nominal, for Great Britain still 
claimed it a part of the Province of Quebec. It was 
not until 1778 that she assumed complete control. 

The County of Illinois in the State of Virginia. 

As far as Land Grants were concerned, the land 
that is now Perry County belonged to Virginia. The 
old "sea to sea" grants to Virginia certainly included 
our county. That was why the authorities of Virginia 
took such an interest in keeping the French out of the 



64 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

region north of the Ohio; why the Ohio Land Com- 
pany was formed ; why Christopher Gist was sent out 
with the "Compass and Pen ;" why Washington was. 
sent on his first pubhc mission, and why Virginia 
troops composed a part of the ill-fated army of General 
Braddock. It has been seen that considerable diffi- 
culty was experienced as to who should have juris- 
diction over the territory northwest of the Ohio. Dur- 
ing the Revolutionary War, the land by the Quebec 
Act was a part of Canada. The forts were in the 
hands of the British. They incited the Indians against 
the colonists. George Rogers Clark, a Kentuckian, 
was sent with an army that captured the forts, drove- 
the British beyond the Lakes, quieted the Indians and 
extended the control of the Commonwealth of Vir- 
ginia, and Perry County with the rest of the territory 
northwest of the Ohio again became a part of the "Old 
Dominion" under the name of the County of Illinois. 
This was in October, 1778. Patrick Henry was Gov- 
ernor of Virginia and John Todd was made Lieutenant 
Governor of the County of Illinois. 

First White Man in Perry County. 

In 1748 a company was formed in Virginia, entitled 
The Ohio Land Company. The object was to survey 
the lands and establish English Colonies beyond the 
Alleghenies. They sent an agent to explore the region. 
This agent we will recognize as no other than the 
friend and companion of Washington, when he carried 
the message from Governor Dinwiddle to the French 
commander in 1753-4. Christopher Gist traveled 
through leagues of almost unbroken forest, crossed 
the Muskingum and Scioto rivers, and was kindly re- 
ceived bv the Shawnee Indians, who had a village on 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 65 

the latter stream about seven miles south of Circle- 
ville, where the hamlet of Westfall now is. The name 
of their town was Chillicothe. Christopher Gist en- 
camped one night on the shore of "Big Swamp," which 
we now reco-cnize as Buckeye Lake. No doubt he was 
the first white man \v'ithin the limits of Perry County. 
Gist started from the forks of the Muskingum, where 
Coshocton now stands, on January 15, 175 1. By draw- 
ing a straight line from Coshocton to Westfall, it will 
be seen that it touches Buckeye Lake, where the village 
of Thornport now stands. 

Land Surveys. 

On May the twentieth, 1785. the Continental 
Congress passed Vvhat is known as the " Land Ordi- 
nance of 1785." It provided for the survey of lands 
in the territory northwest of the river, Ohio. The 
surveys were made under the direction of the 
Geographer of the United States. The lands were to 
be surveyed into townships six miles square, bounded 
by east and west and north and south lines, crossing 
each other at right angles. The ranges of townships 
were to be numbered i, 2, 3, etc. from the Pennsyl- 
vania line westward, and the townships in the ranges 
I, 2, 3, etc. from the Ohio river northward. Further- 
more, the townships should be cut up into lots one 
mile square, each numbered from one to thirty-six, 
beginning in the south east corner and running north 
to sixth ; then beginning the next range with seven and 
running to twelve, etc. The lines were to be suitably 
marked by blazed trees and notches cut into their 
trunks. In many O'f the woods of Perry county can yet 
be seen the marks of the original surveyors. 
5 H. p., c. 



66 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

The first " Seven Ranges " were surveyed as above, 
but the remaining fifteen are different in the number- 
ing of the sections. Our section numbers begin in 
tile north-east corner and run west to six ; begin in 
tlie next row of sections and run east to twelve, etc. 

The surveying began in 1786. The Ranges only 
extend to the Scioto River, for west of that stream 
Virginia had retained the land for her Revolutionary 
soldiers and it was never surveyed. The land in Perry 
county was not ordered platted till May 18, 1796. 
In 1799 General Rufus Putnam was made surveyor- 
general and the work began at once. The land of 
the Ohio Company had been surveyed before. None' 
of our county was in this Company's purchase. But 
their tract did extend to the southern boundary of 
Perry and joined the townships of Coal and Monroe. 

In the first surveys, the variation of the needle, 
which at that time was about two degrees east, was 
seldom corrected. The result was that the north and 
south lines would deviate to the west in going south- 
ward. This would cause a section to be larger than its 
northern neighbor. By the time the survey reached 
Perr\' county, it was necessary to frequently correct 
by starting from new bases, that the sections might 
be kept something near the required size. The line 
between Hopewell and Reading, and Madison and 
Clayton was such a correction line as can be seen on 
the map. There is similar correction between Clayton 
and Pike and between Harrison and Bearfield. It 
is the most noticeable, however, between Jackson and 
Mondaycreek. The first five rows of sections in Mon- 
davcreek are each exactly a mile square, but the west- 
ern row contains over seven hundred acres in each sec- 
tion. This irregularity in the lines was corrected by 



HISTORY OF PErVy COUNTY. 67 

a " correctional meridian " running north from the 
Ohio river, to the northern boundary of Perry county. 
The Hne on the west of Thorn township is this meri- 
dian. But our county got none of its benefits. In 
Vinton county the correction amounted to a mile 
in many places. 

The northern boundary of Perry county was the 
northern limit of Congress Land. Licking county 
belongs to the Military Bounty Lands, which was set 
aside for Revolutionary soldiers. This Congress Land 
was at once set up for sale. The most of it sold for 
$1.25 per acre in half or quarter sections. The Land 
Offices for the sale of land in this county were located 
at Zanesville and Chillicothe. The line separating 
Madison, Clayton, Pike, Saltlick and Coal from Hope- 
well, Reading, Jackson, and Mond^ycreek divided tlie 
two Land Districts. 

The Ordinance of 1785 further provided that, 
" There shall be reserved for the L^iited States out 
of every township the four lots. Ijeing numbered 8, 
II, 26, 29 for future sale. There shall be reserved 
the lot No. 16 of every township, for the maintenance 
of public schools within the said township ; also one- 
third part of all gold, silver, lead and copper mines, 
to be sold, or otherwise disposed of as Congress shall 
hereafter direct." In Perry county none of these 
reservations were made, with the exception of Section 
16. In the Ohio Company's Purchase, Section 29 
was kept for the support of a minister, and was known 
as Ministerial Lands. 



68 HISTORY O^ PERRY COUNTY. 

The Scioto Company Land Scheme. 

When Dr. Manasseh Cutler was negotiatin.e: with 
Congress for the land now known as The Ohio Com- 
pany's Purchase, Col. William Duer of New York, 
■ presented a land scheme to be worked in connection 
with it for purposes of speculation. Col. Duer was 
a man of influence and Dr. Cutler needed him to 
help secure the passage of his Ordinance. So it was 
that under the cover of the petition that the Ohio 
Company presented for the absolute purchase of 
1.500,000 acres, between the 7th and 17th ranges 
of townships, there was also the option for the right 
of purchase, or pre-emption, on over 3,000,000 acres 
of land lying between the Scioto and Ohio Rivers, 
to the west and nort!i of the Ohio Company's Tract. 
This would include all of Perry County. Not many 
persons living in the county perhaps know that 
the land upon which they are now living, was once 
included in a great land scheme, in which the hard 
earned francs of many French people, were lost in the 
very first financial whirlpool, that made itself felt 
within the confines of Wall Street. The Scioto Com- 
pany was formed and had its headquarters in Paris. 
Joel Barlow, author of the Columbiad. and later Min- 
ister of this country to France was sent to Paris by 
Col. Duer to prosecute the sale of land. He had with 
him a description of the country from Dr. Cutler and 
a map bearing the indorsement of the United States 
(geographer. 

Paris and France were ripe for anything. The 
Revolution and the fall of the Bastile had turned the 
country topsy-turvey. The French people naturally 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 69 

erratic, imbued with tiieir new ideas of liberty and 
equal rights, grasped at any and every Quixotic project. 
Barlow, assisted by an Enghshman, named Play- 
fair, who is described as a man with a "good imagina- 
tion," succeeded, by a glowing description, and many 
other embellishments, in setting Paris aglow with the 
craze. They told how delightful the climate was; 
how winters were unknown; how there were trees 
from which sugar yielded itself spontaneously; and 
how another tree yielded ready-nfade candles. They 
said that venison was in abundance. And they told 
the truth when they stated that there were neither 
lions nor tigers to molest them. 

The French seemed to have had quite as "good 
imagination" as the Englishman, Playfair. They pic- 
tured the new land on the banks of the River, Beauti- 
ful, and the Scioto, as a veritable "milk and honey" 
region. Nothing else was talked of in either social 
or political circles. A man named Brissot came to 
this countr}-, and wrote a series of letters in such a 
manner as to complete the popular delusion. He 
corroborated the previous statements of Barlow and 
Playfair. The people became wild with excitement. 
Buyers were numerous. The thrifty middle class 
were especially importunate. Many disposed of their 
entire property that they might invest in the Promised 
Land. 

But the Scioto Company could not give a perfect 
title. They themselves had nothing but an option. Bar- 
low as agent expected from the sale of lands they 
would be able to make the title good. The "imao-- 
inative" Playfair, belying his name, had the money. 
Barlow was himself duped. The result was that Col. 
Duer and the Scioto Company failed and their land 



70 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

reverted to the government. The only thing that the 
Scioto Company did, was the settHng of GalHpohs, 
with French immigrants in 1790. In 1795 the 
United States Government gave 25,000 acres of land 
in the south-eastern part of Scioto county for such 
persons that had lost their property at Gallipolis by 
insecure title. This is known in Ohio history as "The 
French Grant." 

Zane's Trace. 

When Ohio was settled, the only highways w^ere the 
streams and the Indian trails. After the Revolution- 
ary War the rich Ohio valleys became the goal of im- 
migrants. It was likewise the Paradise of the red men, 
who contested every acre of the soil. General St. Clair 
having met defeat at their hands, reported that the 
greatest hindrance to military operations was the ab- 
sence of roads, that their presence would be an incen- 
tive to immigration, that it would hasten the settlement 
of the country and be the best means of quieting the 
Indians. 

Congress at once acted upon the suggestion. The 
President was authorized to contract with a responsible 
party, for the opening of a road from WHieeling on the 
Ohio, to Limestone, Kentucky, on the Ohio. This 
road would pass through the best agricultural land 
that was then open for settlement in ihe Northwest. 
Virginians were flocking to the Military Lands, west 
of the Scioto, to locate their claims. The valleys of 
the upper Hocking and Muskingum were ideal places 
for the settler's clearmg and cabin. 

The work of laying out this road WdS entrusted to 
Colonel FJ3enezer Zane of Wheeling. Colonel Zane 
was a man of considerable force of character and 
plaved no small ]')art in the settlement of the North- 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 71 

west. He was an ideal frontiersman. He was thor- 
oug^hly acquainted with the western wilds from the Po- 
tomac to the Ohio. His brothers were men like unto 
him and assisted him g'reatly in his undertakings. 
President Washington could have found no better man. 
As early as 1769 he came to the present site of Wheel- 
ing, recognizing at once its important geographical po- 
sition. The next year he brought his family. Lord 
Dunmore, then Governor of Virginia, had the great- 
est confidence in Colonel Zane, and made him dis- 
bursing agent at Wheeling. A fort was erected and 
named Fort Finncastle in honor of the titled Governor 
of the "Old Dominion." Zane was familiar with the 
events that led to Dunmore's War. his sympathy be- 
ing with Logan. Chief of the Mingoes. but he took an 
active part in puttiu;^- down tliat war. 

When the Revohitionar\- \\'ar clouds hung heavy 
over the land, true patriot that he was. he did every- 
thing in his power for the establishment of the new 
nation. \\'hile he was never in the Coritinental army, 
yet he served his country in a no less eminent degree. 
Living as he did on the very edge of the frontier, he 
saw that it was as important, that the territory North- 
west of the Ohio should be held by the colonies as it 
was to obtain their independence. For the latter with- 
out the forfner would have crippled them and there 
would have been no room for growth. The struggling 
nation had no army to protect their frontier. It was 
left for the most part to such men as Ebenezer Zane, 
who voluntaril}- took it upon themselves to protect their 
homes from the ravages of the red-men, incited by 
British cupidity and revenge. 

The very last battle of the Revolution was fought 
at Wheeling. The name Fort Finncastle had been 



72 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

changed to Fort Henry in honor of Patrick Henry the 
first governor of the Common weahh. Here on the 
eleventh of September, 1782, the Indians and British 
made an attack. Colonel Zane's house stood about 
fifty yards from the fort. The people took refuge in 
the fort but Zane and his family remained in their 
house. It was at this battle that Elizabeth Zane, a 
sister, performed her heroic act. The defenders of the 
fort suddenly discovered that the powder was ex- 
hausted. There was a sufficient amount in Colonel 
Zane's house, but how to get it was the question. At 
this juncture, the girl volunteered to go, saying that 
her death would not mean so much as a man's. The 
gates were opened. The Indians saw her hurrying 
across the open space, but their chivalry forbade them 
firing on a "squaw." Hastily filling a tablecloth, 
which she tied about her, she returned to the fort. She 
had almost reached it, when her purpose dawned upon 
the Indians and amid a shower of bullets, she passed 
through the gates. The fort was saved. 

During these years. Col. Zane had come into posses- 
sion of considerable property. * He owned the land 
where Wheeling now is. Wheeling Island in the Ohio 
river, the present site of Bridgeport and Martins Ferry 
and a tract extending a considerable distance up Wheel- 
ing Creek on the Ohio side. 

Jonathan Zane, a. brother, was a scout. In 1774 he 
guided an expedition against the Indians on the upper 
Muskingum. He served in like capacity on the ill- 
fated expedition of Governor St. Clair. It is said that 
if St. Clair had taken his advice, the result of the ex- 
pedition might have been somewhat different. It is 
but natural, therefore, that when Ebenezer Zane con- 
tracted to cut the road through Ohio, that he should 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 73 

have left it to his brother who was better acquainted 
with wilderness ways. Jonathan Zane was assisted in 
the work by John Mclntire who had married his sister. 
For this work Col. Zane was to receive a tract of land, 
one mile square for every navigable stream he should 
cross, provided he should maintain a ferry. The work 
was begun early in 1797. The road was nothing more 
than a blazed bridle path, with some of the undergrowth 
and fallen timber removed. This "trace" left Wheel- 
ing, followed Wheeling Creek on the Ohio side, to its 
source, and climbed to the high ridges of Belmont 
county. Following- this divide into Guernsey county, 
it passed through Cambridge, and then headed for the 
falls of the Muskingum at Zanesville. This was the 
first navigable stream. Zane gave the tract of land 
here to his brother, Jonathan and his brother-in-law, 
Mclntire. This was to recompense them for their 
services in opening the road. They in turn leased it to 
William McCullough and Henry Crook for five years. 
These men kept the ferry and thus became the first 
settlers of Zanesville. John Mclntire is really the 
founder of Zanesville. He died in 181 5 and is buried 
beneath the shadows of the Mclntire Children's Home, 
which he founded. This was established as a school 
for poor children of Zanesville. But upon the organi- 
zation of the free school system, it was changed to an 
asylum for unfortunate children, who here find a home 
and an education. This home derives its revenue from 
the Mclntire estate, which originally was the mile 
square given to Zane by the United States Govern- 
ment. 

This trace struck Perry county as indicated on the 
map. There is considerable conjecture as to where it 
really did pass through the county. The writer has 



74 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

been for three years gathering data on tliis first "high- 
way" and he has found in Perry county more uncer- 
tainty about the actual route, than in any same dis- 
tance between Wheehng and Maysville. By many it 
is supposed to be the same as the Maysville pike. 
Others confuse it with the Old State Road surveyed 
in 1809. And still others think that the old Drove 
Road was the original Zane Trace. From such a di- 
versity of opinion it is diffcult to ascertain the ex- 
act truth. The route as shown on the map does not 
pretend to be infallibly true, but as far as can be 
learned, it is approximately correct. The prevailing 
idea that Fink's tavern, the nucleus of Somerset, was 
on Zane's Trace, is hardly correct. And yet. the most 
of the travel may have gone by way of Somerset. The 
men who blazed the trail were not particular in hunt- 
ing the best ground, although they usually aimed to 
follow the ridges. The last statement would justify 
the conclusion that Somerset was on the "Trace." 
But on the other hand the streams served as their 
guides. No white man had ever traveled the route 
before. They knew the general directions only. 
There is no doubt that the Somerset route would have 
been the better one. and travelers soon found it out. 
It is the opinion of the writer that the Zane men were 
trying to find the headwaters of another stream, flow- 
ing south, after they left Jonathan's Creek. They 
passed through the neighborhood of what is now 
known as Dead Man's School. Striking a branch of 
Rushcreek in southwestern Hopewell, they might have 
continued along it but for the fact that there is con- 
siderable swampy land in that section. This would 
cause them to change their course. and take to the hills. 
This trace passed over Rushcreek at the Rushvilles and 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 75 

following- a southwest course, crossed the Hocking: at 
Lancaster. Here Zane established another section of 
land. The little creek winding up through the alluvial 
meadows of Fairfield county was considered navig- 
able for "small boats." The town of Lancaster was 
laid out in 1800, by John and Noah Zane, sons of Col. 
Zane. From here the Trace continued toward Chilli- 
cothe by passing near the present village of Amanda and 
through Tarlton and the Pickaway Plains, crossing the 
Scioto at Chillicothe. Here they were obliged to locate 
their land on the west side of the river. Zane sold it 
to Humphrey Fullerton. Caleb Atw^ater says in his 
history of Ohio (1838) that Fullerton's widow yet 
owned it. From Chillicothe. the road ran southwest, 
crossing Paint Creek near the junction of the North 
Fork and the Yocatangee, followed the latter stream 
a distance and crossed Black Run, where it intersectd 
Todd's Trace, which it followed to ]\Iaysville by way 
of Manchester. In 1799 a post office was established 
at Chillicothe. 'MaW was brought over the Trace once 
a week. Gen. Sanderson of Lancaster was post-boy 
between Chillicothe and Lancaster. 

Zane's trace became the great highway of emigra- 
tion. Droves of pack horses were driven across it. 
Many of the settlers of south central Ohio found their 
way through the primeval forest by means of this 
blazed path. The first settler of Pickaway county.. 
Caleb Evans, came through from Kentucky on Zane's 
Trail. The first settlement in Highland county was 
about half a mile north of Sinking Springs, on Zane's 
or rather Todd's Trace. Rude taverns were erected 
for the accomodation of the guests. At Lancaster there 
was one and at Zanesville, McLitire's tavern became 
famous for having once entertained Louis Philippe. 



76 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

In 1798, a Mr. Graham located upon the site of Cam- 
bridge, Guernsey county. His was the only dwelling 
between Zanesville and Wheeling. Along this road the 
itinerant preacher came with saddle bags and "pious 
mien." By degrees the road was widened in part and 
in many places it was changed altogether, until it is 
almost lost. The Wheeling and Maysville pike only 
follows the Trace approximately. There are variations 
of three miles and over. The Trace followed the high 
ridges mostly and in many places went down precip- 
itous bluffs. The pike goes around the hills. Zane's 
road may well be said to be the initial step in the policy 
of "internal improvements." It served its purpose well 
and had much to do with the developemcnt of the cen- 
tral west. Along it sprang up the settlers' cabin and the 
little clearings testified that the "white man's foot" 
had come. It opened up the most fertile portion, that 
w^as then accessible in Ohio. It was the connecting 
link between the east and the settlements made in the 
southwest. 

Ebenezer Zane certainly deserves the credit of be- 
ing one of the Founders of the Northwest. He died in 
1812 and his body lies on Ohio soil. In the village of 
Martins Ferry, Belmont county, is the Zane burying 
ground surrounded by a brick wall. In this neglected 
inclosure, situated on a terrace overlooking the Ohio, 
as it begins to bend around the state, is a slab upon 
A.hich are these words: 

In Memory of Ebenezer Zane 

who died 19th November, 1812, in the 

66th year of his age. 

He was the first permanent inhabitant of this 

part of the Western Work!, 

having first begun to reside here in the year 1769. 

He died as he lived, an honest man. 







WHERE EBENEZER ZANE IS BURIED. MARTIN'S FERRY, OHIO. 




THE NEW HOME IN THE WOODS OF 
PERRY COUNTY. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 77 

The Refugee Tract. 

During the Revolutionary War many of the people 
living in Canada and other British Provinces, sym- 
pathized with the American patriots in their efforts to 
throw off the British yoke. For this "crime" of sym- 
pathy their presence became obnoxious to such of their 
neighbors as swore by the "divine right of kings." 
Things became so intolerable that they were obliged to 
abandon their homes and take refuge among their 
friends in the colonies. Their lands were confiscated. 
They were thus rendered homeless. Many of them 
entered the patriot army. 

When the war clouds had blown away and the in- 
dependence of the colonies was assured, it was no more 
than a matter of justice, that some means be inaug- 
urated for the reimbursement of these faithful friends. 

As early as April 23, 1783, and again on April 13, 
1785, Congress passed resolutions, that as soon as they 
consistently could, ample grants of land would be made 
to remunerate the Refugees for their sacrifices in the 
cause of the colonies. 

Congress, however, had no land at its disposal, till 
after the organization of the Northwest Territory in 
1787. It was not till eleven years later that final ac- 
tion was taken in the matter. On the 17th of April, 
1798, Congress invited all "refugees" to file their 
claims with the Secretary of War and give a true and 
full account of their services and losses. Two years 
were given in which to file them. At the expiration 
of that time there were sixty-nine applicants. On the 
report of the Secretary of War Congress on February 
18, 1801, appropriated about 100,000 acres. The land 
selected was a tract four and one-half miles wide, ex- 



78 HISTORY OF PKRRY COUXTV. 

leiulin,^^ from the Scioto on tlie west, toward the Mus- 
kinq-um on tlie east, as far as necessary to contain the 
nmnber of acres in the appropriation. There was 
some discussion in Congress as to where it should be 
located. It was a question whether it should be taken 
out of the ^Military Bounty or Congress Lands. It 
was finally compromised by taking a part out of each. 
The location was therefore made along the line be- 
tween these two tracts. Tlie northern boundary of 
Perry county is that line. Two miles of the Refugee 
Land is in Perry and two and one-half miles in Lick- 
ing. On the east the Refugee Tract extended a short 
distance into Muskingum County. The four north- 
western sections of Madison township fall within the 
limit. As far as we are able to learn none of the 
patents issued to these claimants were ever located in 
Perry County. Only 65.280 acres were needed to sat- 
isfy the claims. To this must be added 5.000 acres 
more for school purposes. About 30,000 acres re- 
verted to the government. 

Heroes of the Forest. 

Our county had been traversed by white hunters for 
some years before actual settlements were made. In 
the year 1773, a Baptist missionary accompanied by n 
trader named Duncan, is said to have traveled over the 
path taken by Christopher Gist. Lewis Wetsell and 
Simon Girty, famous hunters and traders, visited the 
Indian town at Lancaster. To reach that place, it 
would be necessary to follow some of the various 
Indian trails through our county. 

We are quite sure that traders stopped within our 
borders for purposes of Ijarter. In the eastern part 
of Bearfield Township, near the Morgan County line, 




PETER OVERMYER. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 79 

is evidenc2 of a trading post. Only a few years ago, 
t-iere was found at this place, a Spanish coin of the 
eighteenth century, some bits of iron and vermillion. 
The latter, evidently, was to sell to the Indians for 
decorative purposes. 

The surveying of the land and the opening of 
Zane's Trace had the effect of opening the land to 
settlement. 

Perry County had the advantage of some of the 
■other counties in that its hills were more healthful 
than the flat lands of Fairfield and Pickaway. Who 
the first permanent settler in our county was is not 
definitely known. It is not probable that there were 
any before the year 1800. In 1801, however, we know 
positively, of several. A man by the name of George 
Arnold had entered some land in Reading Township, 
where the town of New Reading now is. He did not 
settle on the land, but sold it to Christian Binckley, the 
great-grandfather of Capt. T. D. Binckley, present 
Representative from this county. He thus became the 
first permanent settler, as far as known. He came 
from \\'ashington County, Maryland. 

In 1802, several additions were made to the popu- 
lation of our county. Among the first to arrive was 
Peter Overmeyer, who came with his family from 
Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. It might be 
interesting to note that he, too, was the great-grand- 
father of our own Capt. Binckley, of New Lexington. 
Peter Overmeyer was the father of the Peter Over- 
meyer who died but a few years since, and grand- 
father of J. B. Overmeyer, ex-treasurer of this county. 
The }Ounger Peter Overmeyer was three years of age 
when he came to Perry Coimty. Living to a ripe old 
age, he had seen the growth of the entire county. He 



80 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

had experienced the hardships of pioneer days, had 
received his education in the crude way in which it 
was to be got at that time, and no man was more able 
to narrate the early experiences in the woods of Perry 
County than he. His name deserves to go on the Hst 
of the "Heroes of the Forest." 

In the same year that Peter Overmeyer came to 
Reading, other settlements were made in the vicinity. 
Robert Colborn settled east of Somerset. Frederick 
Heck came to the neighborhood of Otterbein and 
George Bowman took up his residence on west Rush- 
creek. From this time the settlements were made 
more rapidly. Fink and Miller, the proprietors of 
Somerset, came in 1803. Soon small clearings began 
to appear in the woods, the settlers' cabin was being 
built and the smoke curled from the stick chimney. 

The Pioneers had come mostly from the states of 
Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland and New York. 
The Pennsylvania Germans and the Virginians pre- 
dominated. The method of bringing families and 
household goods was by wagon or horseback. Often 
the head of the family had come on ahead and had 
the cabin ready for occupancy. If such was not the 
case, the wagon in which they came served as their 
home till the trees could be felled for the house. 

These homes were made of round logs. The roof 
was clapboards, held in place by long poles. The floors 
were logs hewed on one side. Greased paper served 
for windows. One end of the house was utilized for 
the fire-place. The hearth consisted of flat stones. 
Here the cooking was done with utensils few and 
simple. A pot and skillet were deemed sufficient, and 
the family that owned a "Dutch Oven" was considered 
fortunate. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 81 

The clothing was spun and woven by the women 
from flax raised in the clearing-. Linsey-wolsey was a 
common fabric. It was a mixture of wool and cotton. 

The food was necessarily coarse and plain. Hom- 
iny was a staple diet. For meats they depended in 
part upon the animals of the forest. But hog^s were 
soon raised and "hoo^ and hominy" became popular. 

These were the "Good old times" about which we 
hear so much. To old people who live in the past, 
this may be true. But they were hard times, never- 
theless, in more ways than one. It was an experience 
that few care to repeat. 

In spite O'f the hardships and many disadvantages, 
our pioneer fathers extracted their share of life's enjoy- 
ment. People helped each other more then than now. 
There were log-rollings and barn-raisings and corn- 
huskings. These were always made social affairs. 

The settler's cabin had no newspaper and few 
books. The Bible was one of these and its contents 
was read and re-read, till it was committed to memory. 
The long winter evenings were passed in work of vari- 
ous kinds. The pioneer knew very little beside labor. 
During the day, mother and daughters often helped in 
the fields. In the evening, wool and flax were to be 
spun, stockings knitted, clothes made, brooms from 
hickory splints manufactured, harness mended, corn 
shelled and dozens of other duties, then to go to bed 
and sleep during the long winter nights and awake in 
the morning, and find on the bed covers, a thin layer 
of snow, which had sifted in through the clapboard 
roof. 

The men and women who came to the woods of 
Perry County, cleared its forests, built for themselves 



82 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

and families their rude homes, extracted from the 
land by dint of haxd labor, food and clothing, and then 
left to succeeding- generations a heritage of material 
wealth, independence of mind, and above all a high 
type of manhood and womanhood, certainly may be 
called "Heroes of the Forest." 

Their work is done. The third and fourth genera- 
tions now occupy the land they conquered. They now 
sleep in the soil, wrested from the hands of untamed 
Nature and around their narrow beds can be heard the 
hum and buzz of the industry of a newer time for 
which they laid the foundation. 

"Careless crowds go daily past you, 
Where their future fate has cast you. 

Leaving not a sigh or tear; 
And your wonder works outlast you — 

Brave old pioneer ! 
Little care the selfish throng 

Where your heart is hid, 
Though they thrive upon the strong, 

Resolute work it did. 
But our memory-eyes have found you. 

And we hold you grandly dear; 
With no work-day woes to wound you — 
With the peace of God around you — 

Sleep, old pioneer !" — Will Carleton. 

The Evolution of Perry County. 

On July 27, 1788, Arthur St. Clair established the 
County of Washington, with Marietta as the seat of 
government. Washington County comprised the 
whole eastern part of the state. Its western boundary 
line began with the Cuyahoga River, which it followed 
to its source, thence by the portage between that river 
and the Tuscarawas to the forks of the latter with 
the Muskingum. From this point a line was drawn 



HISTOKV OF PERRY COUNTY. 83 

to the source of the Scioto, then along that river to its 
mouth. Perry County was wholly in Washington 
County.. 

On the ninth of December, 1800, the county of 
Fairfield was organized. A part of Washington was 
used in the erection of the new county. The present 
townships of Thorn. Hopewell, Madison, Reading, 
Clayton, Jackson, Pike, Mondaycreek, Saltlick, Coal, 
the four western sections of Pleasant and the four 
western sections of Harriso'U, were incorporated in 
Fairfield, while Monroe. Bearfield, the twelve eastern 
sections of Pleasant and the eighteen eastern sections 
of Harrison remained with Washington. 

The county of Muskingum was established January 
7, 1804. It was formed from Fairfield and Washing- 
ton. The Perry County townships, taken from Fair- 
field were Madison, Clayton and the four western sec- 
tions of Harrison. The remainder of Harrison, which 
belonged to Washington was also added to Muskin- 
gum. It will be seen that the present county of Perry- 
was divided among three counties — Fairfield, Mus- 
kingum and Washington. Fairfield had Thorn, Hope- 
well, Reading, Pike, Jackson, Saltlick, Mondaycreek, 
Coal and the four western sections of Pleasant. Mus- 
kingum had Madison, Clayton and Harrison. Wash- 
ington had Bearfield, ^'lonroe and the twelve eastern 
sections of Pleasant. 

December 26, 181 7, is the date of the organization 
of Perry County. It was fifty-second in order of for- 
mation and was erected from the counties of Washing- 
ton, Muskingum and Fairfield. With but one exception 
the present boundaries of the county were then estab- 
lished. The house of Thomas Mains in Somerset was 
designated as the place for holding court. The excep- 



84 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

tion alluded to in the foregoing refers to the attaching 
of a part of Licking to Perry. Most of the maps do not 
show this. The northern boundary of Perry is usual!} 
considered as a straight east and west line. On Feb- 
ruary twentieth, 1837, the following act was passed by 
the Ohio Legislature : "That the south half of sections 
seventeen and eighteen, in township number seventeen 
of range number seventeen, refugee, be, and the same 
is hereby attached to Thorn township, in the county of 
Perry, and shall from henceforth, be considered for all 
purposes whatever, a part of said county." 

The object of this transfer was on account of cer- 
tain lands that lay north of the township line and 
south of Buckeye Lake. Because, of the body of water 
between this land and the main part of Licking 
County, as a matter of convenience to the owners, it 
was given to Perry. 

Village Settlements. 

Lack of space precludes anything but a brief state- 
ment of the village settlements in our county. The 
dates here given are the official dates of the platting of 
the towns. The villages usually existed before the 
plat was made. Their growth was generally slow and 
the several additions were made as the times demanded. 
It is only in western states that the town is built on 
paper first. Our mining towns have been of rapid 
growth and some of them have* declined quite as 
rapidly. 

Hie nucleus of O'Ur villages was generally a country 
store, a ford in a stream, or a grist-mill. Then would 
come the blacksmith, the cabinetmaker and shoemaker. 
The store often served as tavern. Liquid refreshments 
were handed out over the same counter with calico an 1 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 85 

nails. There were many such settlements throughout 
the county, with such dignified names as "Beanville," 
"X Roads," "Dogtown," "Hard Scrabble," etc., that 
were never platted. 

New Reading, in Reading Township, is in reality 
the oldest town in the county. It was not laid out until 
1805 and thereby lost its distinction of official priority 
for Hanover was platted by Jacob Ditto in 1804. Its 
life was short. (Dne of the first acts of the Common 
Pleas Court, upon the organization of the county, was 
the annulment of the Hanover town plat. New Read- 
ino- was originally called Obermeyersettle, or, in Eng- 
lish, Overmeyertown, from its founder, Peter Over- 
meyer, w'ho was among the first settlers in the county. 
The town received its name from Reading, Penns. 1- 
vania, the home of many of its first citizens. When {he 
county was organized in 1817 New Reading was a 
competitor for the county seat. It is said that this is 
the reason for the two rows O'f sections being taken oflf 
of Richland Township, Fairfield County, and given to 
Reading, thus making the latter a 48-square mile town- 
ship. The town was so near the edge of the surveyed 
township that it was thought to be detrimental to New 
Reading's ambition. 

At the end of the first decade, Reading Township 
possessed the entire trio of Perry County villages. 
Somerset dates from 1810. It was settled about six 
years previously by Fink and Miller, w^ho were Penn- 
sylvania Germans. Fink's Tavern afterward became 
famous for it was a mid-way stop between Zanesville 
and Lancaster. On account of this fact the town was 
at first called Middletown. The tavern stood near the 
site of the present school building. The town was 
named for Somerset, Pennsylvania. When the county 



86 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, 

was organized in 1817, Somerset was one of the four 
towns asking to be the capital. Because of its central 
position to the majority of the people, it was selected. 

Thorn ville became a town in 181 1. Its originator 
was Joseph McMullen. It too enjoys its second name. 
At first the poetic name of Lebanon was given to it 
but on account of another Lebanon in Ohio, it took 
upon itself French airs, followed the English custom, 
and christened itself with the plebeian name of Thorn- 
ville. It has however made up for the deficiency in 
its name, by being the most beautiful village in Perry 
County. It verifies the sayings — "What's in a name?'* 
"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet," etc. 

The word Rehoboth means roominess. The orig- 
inator of the Perry County Rehoboth, evidently had 
that in mnul when he platted the village. To this day 
can be seen the public square, which was one of the 
characteristics of the first towns. But there was an- 
other motive for making the square in Rehoboth, be- 
side that of being artistic. When that town was laid 
out in T815 by John and Eli Gardner, with prophetic 
eye they saw the time when a new county would be 
erected. That new county would need a capital, and 
the capital would need a court house, and a court house 
would not look well unless it fronted a public square. 
True to its purpose it became a formidable rival to 
Somerset. They were worsted in the contest and their 
public square serves as a reminder of the ambition of 
the thrifty citizens. When tobacco became the staple 
crop of the county, Rehoboth was the center for this 
trade. Had the county been organized twenty years 
later, Rehoboth would to-day be the county seat of 
Perry County. 




A ^eJ.M, IN M:\\ LE.\JXt.'i\>X, 1S7 




COAL TIPPLE AT CONGO. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 87 

Bristol is located at an interesting point in the 
county. Situated at the turn of the water-shed, the 
waters of its vicinity find their way into the Muskin- 
gum by South Fork, and into the Hocking through 
Rushcreek, Big Monday creek, Little Mondaycreek and 
Sundaycreek. Besides through its main street ran the 
old Monongahela Indian Trail along whose path the 
Indian braves took their white captives to the Scioto 
towns. Later the white surveyor stretched his chain 
from Fort Harmar to Standing Rock and the Lancaster 
and Marietta Road connected the Muskingum with 
the plains of Fairfield. Bristol was at first named 
Burlington. It too was a bidder for the court house. 
Platted in 1816 it gave evidence of considerable 
growth. The Commissioners, when they visited the 
place concluded it was too far south. The town has 
never recovered from this blow given it in its very in- 
cipiency. 

New Lexington became a town in 1817. James 
Comley was its founder. The first house in town was 
built by Jacob Barnthistle, a tanner. This house stood 
where Kishler's Buggy Shop now stands. Soon other 
buildings were erected but the growth was slow. The 
name was given it in honor of the Lexington of Revo- 
lutionary fame. After an exciting contest, lasting 
seven weeks, it became the county seat in 1857. 

Crossenville dates from 181 7. when William Cros- 
sen laid it out in lots. It was for a number of years 
quite a thrifty village, carrying on a large tobacco 
trade. 

Wolf Town was a hamlet north of Junction City. It 
was never platted but it contained a tannery and sev- 
eral stores. It was sometimes known as "Hard 
Scrabble." 



88 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

We now pass over a period of eleven years, during 
which time no new towns were erected in our county. 
In 1828 Mt. Perry was platted. But Hendrick's Mill 
around which the town grew was huilt in 1820. 

Millertown. in Alonroe Township, can boast of be- 
ing the oldest village in southern Perry, unless we 
except Bristol. It was platted in 1834 by Jacob Mil- 
ler. During the Civil War, John Morgan, the' cele- 
brated Confederate cavalry leader, camped within its 
precincts. 

Straitsville. Saltlick Township, now Coal, was laid 
out in 1835 by Jacob and Isaac Strait. In its early 
history it boasted of a few stores and a tavern. Dur- 
ing the first three years of the Civil War. this town 
was a recruiting station. Its quiet lanes were aroused 
by the tocsin of war. Through its streets, companies 
ot Perry Countv boys were marched and drilled in the 
military art. From its station on the hill it looked 
after the boys in Ijlue as they went toward New Lex- 
ington, to take the cars for the scene of conflict. 

Where is Mount Hope? Jackson Township had 
but one town, so at the Cross Roads where the Somer- 
set and Logan Road crosses the Lancaster and Har- 
mar Road, a town was platted in 1835 ^"^ named 
Mount Hope. But the hopefulness of the place soon 
vanished and no town was ever built. A postofifice 
named Asbury existed for a short time. The place is 
still called Mount Hope by the people of the com- 
munity. 

A town that once bid fair to succeed and enjoyed 
for a time quite a lucrative trade, was Oakfield. It 
was platted in 1838 by Job Tharp. It was the social 
as well as the commercial center of the neighborhood. 
Oakfield is located on the water-shed. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 89 

When the Ohio Canal was built, and the Licking 
Reservoir, laying in sight of Thornville, presented a 
fine expanse of water, the thrifty farmers of Thorn 
township concluded that a boat way should be cut 
through the feeder, to the head of the lake, that they 
might be able to ship their grain. This idea resulted 
in the laying out of the town of Thornport in 1839. 
This Canal scheme, like "Eliphalet Chapin's Wed- 
ding " was not an unalloyed success. It soon ceased 
operations and the great ware-house, that was built to 
store their grain, stands now as a monument to these 
days of yore. 

Sego, our "String Town on the Pike," began 
its ofificial existence in 1846. when William Curry 
built his blacksmith shop there. It gets its name from 
a town in Africa. It was near this village that General 
Ritchie lived, while in Congress and within it Dr. 
Thompson, President of the Ohio State University, 
lived when a boy. 

Porterville is nearly in Morgan county. Situated 
on the county divide, it is surrounded by a fine farming 
community. The town was platted in 1848 by John 
Porter. It was also for a time called Ruskville, after 
the family name of Jerry Rusk, who here played when 
a bare-foot boy. 

Saltillo, (properly pronounced Sawl-teel-yo) is a 
name of Spanish-Mexican origin. Its beginning was 
a tavern, which for many years served as a stopping- 
place for travelers. In 1849 it became a town. Its 
proprietor was F. Bradshaw. 

In the same year of the founding of Saltillo, 
Chapel Hill, Monroe township, originated. This was 
an Irish community, where in 1850, a Catholic Church 
was erected, from which fact the town gets its name. 



90 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

It was also called Thompson ville for a time in honor 
of one of its founders. 

Maxville, the only town of which Mondaycreek 
can boast, was laid out in 1850 by William McCor- 
mick, from whom it gets its name — Mc"s ville. There 
had been a store at this place for some years previous. 
It was owned by Henry Keck. 

At the end of the first half century of the county's 
existence there were within its bounds the following 
post offices : New Lexington, Somerset, Buckeye Cot- 
tage (Saltillo), Rehoboth, Thornville. Mt. Perry, Sego, 
McLuney, Porterville, Whippstown. Oakfield, Max- 
ville, Crossenville, East Rushcreek (now Junction 
City) and Straitsville. 

Middletown is midway between Somerset and Lo- 
gan. A tunnel was being made through the hill south 
of Middletown and this brought quite a number of 
laborers there. A store was built and the town laid 
out in 1853. 

Clarksville, also in Jackson Township, was estab- 
lished by Daniel Clark in 1854. St. Patrick's Church 
is located here. 

The building of Junction City, only a mile away, 
totally and permanently eclipsed the older town, and 
but for the church, you might pass through the vil- 
la!?"e and never know it. 

Like a great many of our towns. McLuney was 
a village before it was surveyed into streets and alleys. 
In 1850, McLuney, already enjoyed the distinction of 
having a post-office. It was not until 1855 that it 
was organized. Its name is derived from the creek 
upon which it is located. 

Wc now pass over a period of fifteen years during 
which town building in Perry County seemed to be at 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 



91 



a standstill. Diirino- the Civil War our commercial 
activity was dormant and it was not till 1870 when 
the coal and iron fields began to be developed, that 
there began a period of renewed activity. Our 
county was taking a new lease of life. There were 
three periods of growth in the county. The first was 
the establishment of the pioneer home. The village 
then existed for the simple wants of the traveler, 
hunting a new home, and for the pioneer settlement. 
The second period was a period of growth in which 
the productions of the soil began to appear more 
abundantly than the settler could use for himself. The 
village now existed to give a market for these super- 
fluous products. The third period was that in which the 
mineral wealth was utilized. Milages and towns 
now served as convenient homes for the men working 
in the mines. 

Our next period will be one of manufacturing, 
when our raw material will be converted into the fin- 
ished article before it leaves us. 

IJefore speaking of the towns built since 1870, it 
might be interesting to note the following : 

A PROPHECY FULFILLED. 

Buckeye Blosso}ns, published in 187 1 by Mrs. M.. 
E. Porter, has this to say of Perry County. 

"This little county (Perry) comparatively un- 
known, is destined at no distant day to become a 
central attraction. Coal and iron are found in abun- 
dance and of superior excellence ; and railroads are 
being made and companies organized for the purpose- 
of mining these extensively. New Lexington on the 
Cincinnati and Zanesville Railroad is the county-seat, 
Oakfield and .Somerset are verv fine towns." 



92 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

New Straitsville is the pioneer mining- town of the 
county, having- Ijeen laid out by a mining company 
in 1870. It had a phenomenal growth. 

In 1 87 1. Ferrara. a town with a distinctl\' Italian 
name, was laid out between the present locations of 
Rendville and Corning. Upon the organization of the 
latter the name Ferrara disappeared. 

A town had existed for some time on the present 
site of Junction City. 

The post-office was known as East Rushcreek. 
Later, George Wolfe laid out on his farm a village and 
called it by the scriptural name Damascus. Mr. Ed- 
miston also had an ambition to build a city and on an 
adjoining farm he began a town, calling it Trio City, 
because of the three railroads. These towns became 
rivals and the matter was finally settled by a compro- 
mise in 1872 and the present cognomen was received. 
The place had been known as Wolfe's Station after 
the C. & I\I. V. R. R. was built. 

Shawnee, the metropolis of the county began its 
existence in 1872. It was laid out by T. J. Davis. 

McCuneville really dates back to 1829 when the 
original salt works were erected. From that time 
until its platting in 1873 by the McCunes it received 
the name of the " Salt Works." When the McCunes 
built their extensive salt plant here, it was intended to 
name the town Salina, but there was already one town 
in the State by that name. Then for a time it was 
known as Tallyho. Tallyho is the huntsman's cry to 
urge on his hounds. The fact that the old "salt lick" 
was a famous hunting ground, made the name quite 
appropriate. But some man's name had to be per- 
petuated and the ubiquitous "ville," like Banquo's 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 9^ 

^e^host showed itself and McCuneville was the unfort- 
unate result. 

Glenford, as a town existed for many years before 
the plat was made. Its mill at the Ford of Jonathan's 
Creek had long ground the farmer's grain. It was 
not till the railroads ran through it that it began to 
grow. 

Moxahala, on the South Fork of the Moxahala, 
was a furnace town, laid out in 1873. 

Crooksville, the "clay city" of the county, was or- 
ganized in 1874. In recent years it has been of rapid 
growth, and is now one of the most important towns 
in the county. 

Roseville, a much older town, is hardly to be con- 
sidered a Perry County village. The part lying on the 
Perry side is of recent growth. The town was origin- 
ally called Milford. 

Buckingham was laid ont.in 1873. Dicksonton 
was built in 1875 and is now a deserted village. 

Baird Furnace also belongs to the class of "has 
beens." 

Corning is our "oil city." It was laid out in 1878 
by Joseph Rogers. Rendville was platted the next 
year by Capt. T. J. Smith and W. P. Rend. 

The most recent of our mining towns is Congo. 
It was built in 1891-92. It is a model mining town. 

Organization of the Townships. 

Bcai'ficld Township is so named because of the 
numerous bears found there at an early date. It was 
settled in 181 2 by James Black and was organized 
in 1818 as an original township of Perry county. 

Clayton Township is so called from one of its first 



94 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

settlers. It was settled in 1806 and org-anized in 1810 
under Muskingum county. 

Coal Township is the youngest in the county. It 
was organized in 1872 by striking ot? thirteen sections 
from Saltlick. It derives its name from the abundance 
of the mineral of that name to be found in the hills. 

Harrison Township was formerly a part of Clayton. 
Hence it belonged to Muskingum county. It was 
organized in 1820. It was named for General Harri- 
son the Hero of Tippecanoe. The township was set- 
tled about 1806. 

Hopewell Township w^as organized in 18 10. It 
was settled early in the century by one Ridenour. 
Origin of its name is unknown. But no doubt it was 
significant of the feelings of the early settlers who 
were mostly Germans. It was a venture, this settling 
in a wilderness, but they "hoped well." 

Jackson Township was organized as a part of Fair- 
field county. The only authority that we have says 
that it was organized about 1805. There is some 
doubt about this. There can be no question why it 
was called Jackson. Rut at that time (1805) General 
Jackson was unknown to fame. It is true that he was 
a' favorite in Tennessee, and that he had been in 
the United States Senate where he neither made a 
speech nor voted. At this time he was living the 
quiet life of a farmer and listening to the schemes of 
Aaron Burr, who tried to draw him into the net. into 
which the unfortunate Blennerhassett fell. There 
is one thing certain. If Jackson township was organ- 
ized in 1805 it was named for another Jackson. If it 
was named for the Hero of New Orleans it must have 
been subsequent to 1805. Very few people settled 



HIoTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 95 

in that township prior to that time. From then, how- 
ever, to 1820 the growth was rapid. 

Madison Township is an original one in this coun- 
ty. It was settled about 1800 or a little later by Wil- 
liam Dusenberry. It is named after James Madison 
and was organized soon after the county. 

Monday creek Tozvnship was settled in 18 15 by 
"Timothy Terrell. It was a part of Fairfield county. 
It was organized in 1823. It is named from the two 
principal streams flowing through it. 

Monroe Township was also organized in 1823. It 
is named from the then President of the United States. 
It was previous to this, a part of Bearfield for politi- 
cal purposes. It was settled in 1814 by John Mc- 
Donald and James Dew. 

Pike Toivnship was organized in 1 814 by Fairfield 
county. It was named for General Pike of the Revolu- 
tionaly War. The first settler was John Fowler who 
came from Maryland in 181 1. 

Pleasant Toz^mship was organized in 1850. It 
contains sixteen sections, taken as follows : Nine from 
Bearfield, three from Pike, three from Monroe, and 
one from Saltlick. The origin of its name is manifest. 

Reading Toivnship was christened by Peter Over- 
meyer, who came from Reading, Pennsylvania, in 
1 801. It was a part of Fairfield county and w^as or- 
ganized in 1807. But when Perry county was organ- 
ized, two rows of sections were taken ofif of Richland 
township, Fairfield county, in order to give the new 
county the requisite area. 

Saltlick Tozmiship was so called from the "salt- 
lick" at McCuneville. It was settled by John Hazel- 
ton and organized in 1823. 



96 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

Thorn Tozviisliip was organized in 1804 or a little 
later by Fairfield county. It was named from the 
numerous thorns that grew about the Great Swamp. 
It was settled in 1801 by George Stinchcomb and 
others. 

Section 16. 

The Ordinance of 1787 stipulated that "Section 16" 
of every Congressional township should be reserved 
for the maintenance of schools in that township. The 
object of this school grant w^as not so much for the 
furtherance of education by Congress as it was an in- 
centive to settlers. This reservation was not open to 
sale or settlement, and consequently the territorial Leg- 
islature could do nothing with it. When Ohio became 
a state these lands were granted to her to be disposed 
of by the Legislature. There was thus left to Ohio 
for school purposes the splendid endowment of 704,000 
acres. The income only from this land could be used. 
In consequence up to 1827 they were leased and rented 
in various ways. The appraisement of their rental 
value was often low and much mismanagement caused 
the revenue to be of little value. 

The Legislature finally in 1827 provided for their 
sale. The money was turned into the State Treasury 
and the township to which the section belonged should 
receive six per cent interest. Much of it was sold at 
once but in some parts of the state there are tracts yet 
unsold. In our own county the first was sold in 1831 
and the last in 1883. We have twelve "school sec- 
tions." The townships of Pleasant and Coal, being 
formed from other townships do not happen to have 
Section 16 within their limits. The amount received 
from their sale in Perry county was $27,829.33. This 
gives the schools an annual income of $1,669.76. It 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 97 

is divided among the twelve Congressional townships 
according to the amount for which their respective 
sections sold. The following is the sum each township 
receives. 

Bearfield $30 21 

Clayton 143 95 

Hopewell 117 14 

Harrison 392 80 

Jackson 82 91 

Madison 88 38 

Mondaycreek 120 00 

Monroe 39 30 

Pike 258 54 

Reading 168 60 

Saltlick 107 56 

Thorn 120 37 

The above amounts do not represent the actual 
sum each township can use for its schools ; for the po- 
litical township is' not always co-extensive with the 
"survey township." 

In the case of Bearfield, her $31.21 is divided per 
capita for all persons of school age, residing in Bear- 
field and the nine sections given to Pleasant. Pleas- 
ant township receives the per capita rate of Bear- 
field for her children of school age in those nine 
sections. Pleasant township also receives the per 
capita rate of Monroe township, for the number she 
has living in the three sections taken from Mon- 
roe. In like manner she gets from Saltlick for the 
one section and from Pike for the four sections. 
Saltlick's $107.56 is divided among the schools of 
Saltlick, Coal and Pleasant. Mondaycreek must pay 
almost half of her revenue to Hocking county. Har- 
rison and Madison m.ust pay to Muskingum, while 
7 H. p. c. 



98 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

Reading', the most fortunate of all gets from Fairfield, 
on account of those two rows of sections on the west. 
Every one of school age in the county gets a share 
of this income. Every school board gets its allotment. 
A joint district between two townships is entitled to 
an amount from the township in which the school 
house is not situated. 

It is a curious fact that in Thorn and Hopewell 
townships, school lands were sold out of Section 15. 
In the latter almost all of both Sections 15 and 16 were 
disposed of for the schools. The only reason we can 
find for this irregularity, is that in many cases, Section 
16 had been "entered" before the survey was properly 
made. The law gave permission to take in lieu thereof 
other land that had not been sold. 

The setting aside of this land for the schools, is 
one of the achievements for which the United States 
Congress under the Articles of Confederation, deserves 
no small honor. While the results have not been as 
great as its promoters anticipated, yet it was an induce- 
ment for the early settlers to found schools. One thirty- 
sixth of all the land for the dissemination of educa- 
tion in a wilderness, gives us an idea of the character 
of the men who labored for the struggling young na- 
tion in the trying ordeal of post-revolutionary days. 
It is no wonder that Ohio should obtain and maintain 
a prestige in the production of men, when in her very 
incipiency, the means of developing the mind were not 
overlooked in the struggle for life and home in the 
forest. 

Churches. 

The church organizations have always been the 
social centers in our county. The people who settled 
Perry county were very religiously inclined. Soon 




(iLl) lATIIKkAX e J-..\l I-. 1 Kk\ A I >( ) Al i';KSI-yi . 




AN OLD T1AU-: .\1 !•: K 1 I .\ (.. 11(_)LSK. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 99 

after the first settlers the missionary came, not to con- 
vert, but to gather the people into congregations. 

To speak of all of the church communities in this 
county would demand more space than the size of this 
book will justify. 

Only a short time elapsed after the settlement at 
Overmeyer town, till there came Rev. William Foster 
a Lutheran missionary from Pennsylvania. The first 
sermon ever preached in the woods of Perry county 
was in what is now the orchard owned by the late 
George Weisman. In 1805, at New Reading, the first 
congregation in the county, and the first of the Lu- 
theran Church in the state was organized. This or- 
ganization is yet in existence. The next year, 1806. 
Zion's church of Thorn township was begun. This 
was erected by the Lutheran and Gennan RcfomicJ 
congregations, and is the second oldest in the county. 
The Reformed minister was Rev. John King, who 
settled in the county in 1803. He was the first, tliere- 
fore, to permanently locate here for Rev. Foster was 
a traveling missionary. This Rev. Foster organized 
the Lutheran church at Somerset in 181 2. He died in 
1815 and is buried in the Zion cemetery. The Somer- 
set congregation has a very interesting history. The 
churcli was located in what is now known as the Old 
Lutheran Cemetery. It was built of hewed logs and 
had a gallery. It had also a pipe organ, built by Henry 
Humberger. It was in this church, in j8i8. tliat [lie 
Joint Synod of Ohio was organized, and the first 
preacher. Rev. Andrew Hinkle was licensed to preach. 
. The "Lutheran Standard," the official organ of the 
Ohio Lutheran Synod was also for a time printed in 
Somerset. At one time, the Lutheran Seminary, now 
Capital University, was expected to l)e located here. 



L.ofC. 



100 HISTORY OF PERKY COUNTY. 

In fact, during" the ministry of Rev. Lehman,' a theo- 
logical class was privately taught. 

This congregation and most of the other Lutheran 
Churches in the county was served by Rev. Chas. 
Hinkle who is buried in the old cemetery 

The Thornville Lutheran Church was organized in 
1810 by Rev. Foster in conjunction with Rev. King, 
of the Reformed congregation. 

Lebanon Lutheran Church at Junction City began 
its existence in 181 5. For many years the Reformed 
people also worshiped in it. The Lutheran and Re- 
formed congregations jointly built St. Paul's at Glen- 
ford in 1 81 8. 

The same year, the Shelly, or Good Hope Church 
was organized. St. John's Lutheran Church in Mon- 
daycreek was organized by Rev. Frankenburg in 1841, 
but preaching had been held in private houses and barns 
for six years previous. 

About a mile and a half east of Mt. Perry is the 
United Presbyterian Church on Jonathan Creek. 
This denomination was the third to organize a church 
in the county. They date from 1807. Their services 
were first held in a school house, or, if weather per- 
mitted, in a tent. The first pastor was Rev. Abraham 
Craig. 

Unity Presbyterian Church, in Clayton township, 
began its existence in the year 1809. The services 
were, at the beginning, transient, both barns and houses 
being utilized. In 181 1, Rev. James Culbertson of 
Zanesville came once a month. The organization 
proper was made in 1816, when Rev. Wright of Lan- 
caster became pastor. The old log school house was 
used at first. During his pastorate the log church was 
built in 1826. Unity congregation had a wide influ- 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 101 

ence. Her pastors were scholars. One was a gradu- 
ate of Dartmouth and Yale, and another of Princeton. 
Rev. Moore rests in the cemetery beneath the shadow 
of the church, for which he labored so arduously. Rev. 
Henry Beeman of New Lexington, came to Unity in 
1866 and for some years served as its efficient pastor. 

The Presbyterian congregation in New Lexington 
was organized in 1837. Rev. Moore had preached to 
the people before. This society deserves to be placed 
in the list of pioneers. 

The Diinkcrs or German Baptists, of whom there 
were, and are now, quite a number in the northern part 
of the county, worshiped in private houses in Thorn 
township as early as 18 10. In 181 7 a congregation was 
organized in Madison township near Mt. Perry. 

Hopewell Baptist Church, on Zane's Trace, in 
Hopewell township is the pioneer church of that de- 
nomination. 181 2 is the date of its organization. It 
was for many years one of the most influential of all 
the Baptist societies in the country. 

The Hazelton graveyard in Saltlick township is an 
old landmark. The church that stood there not only 
occupied a prominent position, geographically, but its 
influence gave it prominence in another direction. The 
Hazelton Baptist Church was the first in Saltlick town- 
ship and the second of that denomination in the county. 
The church has for many years been destroyed and the 
congregation disbanded. The date of its beginning is 
1820. John Hazelton for whom it was named was 
a soldier of the War of 181 2. 

To walk from New Lexington to Hazelton's to 
attend church was a little difficult, and it was not long 
after the organization of the church in Saltlick town- 
ship until the Baptists in the vicinity of New Lexing- 



102 HISTORY OF PERKY COUNTY. 

ton concluded that they, too. might support a church._ 
Accordingly, about 1821, the organization was ef- 
fected. In 1825, they built their church of hewed logs. 
It contained a gallery and was quite a commodious 
building for the time. The present building stands 
near the site of the first. It was built in 1845. 

A Baptist congregation existed for some years at 
Oakfield. It is worthy of being listed as a pioneer. 
In 1 814 they organized and built a church, but the con- 
gregation was small and it soon disbanded. 

An organized society of this denomination was at 
Bristol in 1832. In the same year, Ebenezer, in Mon- 
daycreek was founded. 

The pioneer Methodist Circuit Rider early found 
his way into the Perry county wilds. The Methodists 
held services in the county as soon as any of the de- 
nominations. But the first class was not begun till 
181 1, when Rev. James B. Finley organized the con- 
gregation at Somerset. This was followed the next 
year by the formation of a class at Rehoboth. Church 
services were held in the latter place in a private house 
until 1818, when a log church was built. 

The same year that the Methodists organized at 
Rehoboth, the Hopewell class or as it is better known, 
the Chalfant's Church was formed. 

The Fletcher, or.Holcomb M. E. Church is in Bear- 
field township. They built a church in 1825, but for 
ten years, the congregation had met in private houses. 

The first church in Harrison township was the IliiT. 
The log edifice was built in 1819, but that is not the 
exact date for the genesis of the society. Bishop Ilifif 
of the M. E. Church is from this place. 

Madison has an M. E. Church, known as Bethel, 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 103 

that antedates Iliff by one year. It organized in 1818 
and in 1819 ,they erected a hewed log church. 

Zion Church in the same township is of later origin. 
It began about 1834. It is in its cemetery that General 
Ritchey, ex-Congressman lies buried. New Reading 
M. E. Church was organized in 1825. 

The New Lexington Methodist congregation was 
organized in 1828. The services at first were held in 
the old log Baptist Church. Eleven years later they 
built their church which was destroyed by fire in 1875, 
when the present brick structure was erected. 

The Asbury M. E. Church in Monroe township 
may also be classed among the pioneers. Its begin- 
ning was in 1830. 

The Bible Christians built a log church in 1820 in 
Monroe township. A frame building was more re- 
cently erected and services are still held. 

The pioneer church of the Disciples was in the east- 
ern part of Saltlick township where in 1830 a congre- 
gation began its existence. 

In 1847, with Daniel Rusk, the father, of Jeremiah 
Rusk, at the head, a congregation was organized at 
Porterville. .V log church was built which has since 
been supplanted by a frame building. Daniel Rusk 
is buried in the cemetery adjoining the church. 

St. Matthew's Disciple Church near Mt. Perry was 
organized in 185 1. The society was disbanded in 1867 
and re-organized in 1880. 

A Disciple Church existed at Oakfield a few years 
subsequent to 1848. 

Otterbein I'nited Brethren Church is situated on 
the Pike, four miles west of Somerset. It is the first 
church of that denomination in the countv. It has al- 



104 HISTOKV OF PERRY COUNTY. 

ways been a large and influential society and is yet 
a strong organization. It dates from 1818. 

Zion Church, in Jackson township, is only a few 
miles from the mother church. Before a church home 
was procured, church services were held in the woods. 
When the frosts of autumn came, they would burn 
log heaps. The date of the beginning of this society 
is 1830. 

The Mennonite Church in Mondaycreek is the only 
representative of that denomination in the county. 
The exact date of its organization is unknown. Its 
members were mostly Germans and among them were 
many of the first settlers of that community. The 
date of its beginning is certainly before 1830. 

The first settlers of Perry county were mostly Prot- 
estants. In the north where the German element pre- 
dominated, there were mostly Lutherans, German Re- 
formed and Dunkers. In the central and southern 
parts of the county where the people were mostly Vir- 
ginians the Methodists and Baptists were most numer- 
ous. 

However, among the first pioneers of the county, 
especially in the neighborhood of Somerset, were some 
German Catholic families. To Bishop Fenwick be- 
longs the honor of being not only the missionary priest 
of Perry county but the very first to be settled in Ohio. 
It is said that Bishop Fenwick in traveling through 
Ohio reached the tavern of John Fink at Somerset, 
and upon discovering that his host was a Catholic 
celebrated Mass within the rude home of the pioneer. 
This is as far as known the first mass ever said within 
the bounds of the State. It was the genesis of the 
Catholic Church in Ohio. Bishop Fenwick was a priest 
of the Dominican Order whidi had established the 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 105 

"Convent of St. Rose in Kentucky. Dr. Fenwick was 
ably assisted in his missionary work by his nephew, 
Father Young-. 

The Ditto and Fink famiHes had entered at the 
land office, three hundred and twenty-nine acres of 
land, located two miles south of Somerset. This they 
donated to Father Fenwick for the express purpose of 
establishing- a Church and Convent of the Dominican 
Order. Fathers Fenwick and Young were sent to take 
care of this endowment. 

They arrived at their destination about the first of 
December 1818. On the sixth of the same month, the 
little log- chapel in the forest was dedicated. It was the 
first Catholic Church in the state of Ohio. The congre- 
gation consisted of but six families. Before the end 
of the year an addition of stone was built to the log 
chapel. 

Holy Trinity Church at Somerset was organized 
in 1820 by the Dominican Fathers. About this time 
Catholics began to pour into the county. It was found 
that Holy Trinity and St. Joseph's could not accomo- 
date all. Arrangements were made to enlarge the lat- 
ter and in 1829 a substantial brick edifice took the 
place of the original. 

St. Joseph's was the headquarters of the Dominican 
Order in America. From its Convent walls, its preach- 
ers, for preaching is what the Dominican priesthood 
stands for, went into all parts of the country. With 
the exception of the Pacific coast, St. Joseph's is yet 
the American center of the Order. Most of the Cath- 
olic congregations in the count)- were organized 
through the agency of the priests at St. Joseph's. 
While all of these congregations, with the exception 
of Holy Trinity, have passed under the ecclesiastical 



106 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

control of the Bishop of the Columbus Diocese, the 
honor of their organization belongs to the Dominicans. 

The Church and Convent were destroyed by fire in 
1862. The present buildings were then erected. For 
a time St. Joseph's was also a college, where a purely 
secular education could be received. It is now but a 
Theological school. It has a magnificent library of 
about ten thousand volumes. Many of these are quite 
old and valuable. 

The Convent is to be taken to Washington City. 
At present the students begin their study at St. Rose's, 
Kentucky, and complete it at St. Joseph's. After the 
removal the initial work will be done at St. Joseph's 
and its completion in the Capital City. The "Rosary 
Magazine" at Somerset is published under the auspices 
of the Order. 

Father Fenwick who became Bishop of Cincinnati, 
purchased land opposite the church in Somerset for 
the purpose of founding a female academy. This 
school was opened in 1830 in connection with a Con- 
vent. Its success was unbounded till it burned to the 
ground in 1866. Because of a generous offer from 
Columbus, it was determined to accept the new loca- 
tion. The well-known school, St. Mary's of the 
Springs, in Columbus, is the successor of St. Mary's at 
Somerset. 

A few^ years subseciuent to the founding of St. Jo- 
seph's, a Catholic Church was built in the eastern part 
of Clayton township. It was made of logs and was 
used till 1833, when it was abandoned. The congre- 
gation then met at Rehoboth, in a large building that 
hai been erected for a grist mill. The motive power 
of this mill was to be a perpetual motion. Tho ar- 
chitect didn't get the motion perpetuated and he was 




CHURCH AT CHAPEL HILL. 




HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 107 

glad to dispose of the building. This was used as a 
church till 185 1, when a new one near McLuney was 
built. The Rehoboth congregation then worshiped 
at the new location. The McLuney church has in 
turn been united with the new organization at Crooks- 
ville. 

St. Patrick's Church near Junction City is one of 
the children of St. Joseph's. It was organized in 1830 
by Father Young of whom mention has already been 
made. The first building was of brick and was quite 
small. The present edifice was erected in 1845. I't 
is one of the largest church organizations in the county. 

Chapel Hill is possibly one of the best known 
churches in the county. It may hardly be considered a 
pioneer church, since it was not organized till about 
1850. Services are not held here now. and the building" 
is nearing a state of ruin. 

The famous old Stone Church in western Saltlick 
is, too, in a ruinous condition. The congregation dates 
back to 1825. The building that is now falling to 
pieces was built in 1839. It was a magnificent struc- 
ture for its day and is ore of the landmarks of south- 
ern Perry. 

Schools. 

There were two factors in the development of edu- 
cation in our county. The Germans built the school- 
houses and the Irish furnished the teachers. In the 
settlement of our county, the church in every com- 
munity was the first institution to be organized ; the 
school was the second. The result was that the school 
and the church were usually built 'near each other. 
Often the church building was used for the school, 
and more often the school-house served in the double 
capacity. The primitive school-houses of the woods 



108 JIISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

were crude affairs. They were all built on the same 
general plan. A pen was built of unhevved logs ; the 
spaces between the logs were filled with "chinks" and 
mud ; one end of the building was occupied by a huge 
fire-place, in front of which half of the pupil, alter- 
nately roasted, and froze, that particular half being 
dependent upon whether he sat with his face or back to 
the fire. In this huge fire-place, the "dinners" would 
often be placed to keep them from freezing. The 
benches had no backs. There were low ones for the 
little fellows and high ones for the big boys. These 
benches were split from trees. The upper side of each 
was "smoothed" with an ax, and splinters were often 
numerous. The writing desks were along the walls 
of the building. A log had been left out above this 
place and when the opening was covered with greased 
paper an elegant window was the result. Wooden pegs 
were driven into the logs upon which their caps were 
hung. The teacher sat upon a high chair, before a high 
desk, opposite the fire-place. Behind him within easy 
reach was an abundance of rods. If there was not a 
sufficient supply to successfully impress the recalcitrant 
pupil with the glories and benefits of an education, 
there was no dearth of duplicates in the woods. 

The writing pens used by the pupils were made of 
quills, and one of the cardinal requisites of every 
teacher was that he should be able to make a good quill 
pen. The teacher "boarded 'round" and if he hap- 
pened to be a genial sort of a personage his coming was 
always welcomed. Only the elements of an education 
were taught. The spelling-book was always required. 
If you were not the possessor of a Reader, any book 
you happened to have would serve quite as well. The 
r>i1)le was read and at times the Prayer-book made a 



HISTORY OF PERRY COIJNTY. 109 

suitable reading- book. It has been said that the cele- 
brated Hagerstown Almanac was often utilized. 

In searching for the first school in Perry County, 
we would naturally look toward New Reading, the 
oldest settlement. A subscription school of three 
months was conducted there during the winter of t8o8. 
But it was not the first school. It was the second. 
The year previous, an English school was taught about 
two miles east of Somerset. An English and German 
school was taught in Somerset, the very first year of 
the town's organization. 

School was conducted within the present limits of 
New Lexington, before the town was laid out. The 
building was a log cabin that stood at the foot of 
Brown street, near the spring that yet sends forth 
its sparkling water. This was in 1815. Five years 
later a school-house was built where the McClelland 
Livery Barn now stands. At about the same time, the 
rural districts began to arouse themselves and a school 
began its operations near where Arthur King now 
lives on the Logan road. In 1830 Pike Township was 
divided into districts, much in the way it is divided 
now. 

The first school in Madison was taught about one 
and a half miles south of Mt. Perry. No date can be 
found for this school but it evidently was quite early. 

Bearfield began to have schools about 1820. 

Some of the early teachers were men who knew 
very little about teaching. Again there were among 
them some of considerable ability. They were for the 
most part persons who would drop into a neighbor- 
hood, teach their term of school and drop out again. 
A few remained as fixtures. 



110 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

In the Bethel Presbyterian Cemetery near Middle- 
town, is buried one of these old time pedagogues. His 
name was Colonel Thorn. For many years he taught 
at Somerset, but finally, he like all teachers must, 
sooner or later, dropped out of the ranks. For many 
3'ears afterward he was a familiar figure with his pecu- 
liar "teacher ways." 

I'rof. Charles Nourse was for many years a prom- 
inent teacher. In Somerset he taught a select school, 
under the very dignified name of "The Somerset Col- 
legiate Institute." Prof. Nourse afterwards became 
principal of the New Lexington public schools. He 
was one of the examiners of Perry County, and an 
examination taken under him in 1866 is described as 
follows : "There were thirty-two applicants — ten men 
and twenty-two women. The applicants were ar- 
ranged as a class in school and the examination pro- 
ceeded orally. It seems that Prof. Nourse was the 
only examiner present. The questions were given to 
the head of the class and if answered correctly due 
credit was given, if not it was passed to the next, and 
so on through the class. When the examination was 
completed, those who had passed successfully were 
given certificates at once. At this examination all of 
the ladies received certificates, but only four of the 
men were successful. In giving out the certificates, 
the examiner, who was evidently somewhat of a ladies' 
man, remarked that it was no more than right to in- 
dulge the ladies." 

Our first schools were supported from the revenue 
of school lands. These being insufficient, the fund was 
augmented by ])rivate subscription. The pioneer 
school law of Ohio was passed in 1821. It provided 
for a tax, the division of a township into districts, and 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. Ill 

the election of three men in each district to levy the 
tax, build the school-house, employ the teacher and 
be the judge of his qualifications. It was left to the 
option of the electors whether they would make such 
provisions or not. This made the district the unit and 
the people of Ohio still cling to that idea. In 1825, a 
law was passed, making it mandatory upon the town- 
ship trustees to divide townships into school districts, 
each district to elect three directors, who should build 
a school-house, employ a teacher, make the needful 
assessments and superintend the school. The teacher's 
qualifications were to be determined by a Board of 
County Examiners. In 1838 the law was enacted mak- 
ing the township clerk superintendent of the township 
schools. His duty was to visit each school at least 
once a year and examine all matters "touching the 
situation, discipline, mode of teaching, and improve- 
ment thereof." At least six months of good schooling 
was required. 

In 1847 the celebrated Akron Law was passed. 
This gave the right, to provide "for the support and 
better regulation of the common schools in that town." 
The next year this law was made general. And still 
the next year the "Law of 1849" was applied to all 
cities and towns. Lender this law the modern High 
School had its origin. 

In 1853, a general law was passed, designating one 
of the sub-directors a member of the township Board 
of Education. It was practically as it is now with the 
exception that the township board had no voice in em- 
ploying the teacher. Its jurisdiction was only general. 
This law also provided for the levy of one-tenth of a 
mill upon the taxable property for the purpose of fur- 



112 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

nishing libraries and apparatus for the common schools 
of the state. 

Under this provision $300,000 was spent during the 
years 1854-55-56 and 59. The books were the cream 
of the literature then extant and 400,000 volumes were 
distributed throughout the state. There was lack of 
system in their distribution and in many places they 
were allowed to be lost. The cry of economy on the 
part of the farmers was raised. It was for them and 
their children that the library was inaugurated. The 
law was repealed. It made no appreciable difference 
in the taxes of any farmer and as a consequence he had 
■ cut off his own nose to spite his face." 

Madison Academy. — The glory of Madison 
Academy has departed. But it is still vivid in the 
memories of the citizens of Mt. Perry. They delight 
to tell of the palmy days, when their village was an 
educational Mecca ; when their streets were filled with 
young men and women, who had come to drink deep 
at learning's fountain. Those were halcyon days — 
the days when William D. Harper of the Chicago Uni- 
versity, recited within the walls of the "Academy" and 
William O. Thompson of our own State University, 
came to Mt. Perry to attend church and Sunday School. 

Madison Academy was founded in i87imnder the 
direction of the Rev. James White. It was controlled 
by the United Presbyterian Church. This denomina- 
tion is particularly strong in that section. The Acad- 
emy served somewhat as a feeder for Muskingum Col- 
lege, at New Concord. But it had a better field of 
usefulness in another way. In the days before the 
High School era. the youth from the district school 




AIADISON ACADEMY 




SALT KETTLE C<F 1820. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 



iia 



repaired to its precincts for the benefits of a higher 
education. It did its work well for many years. Mad- 
ison Academy is of the past but its influence is of 
the present. The building has been turned over to 
the Board of Education in consideration of their main- 
taining a Township High School. 

A school of higher education for girls, that is at- 
tracting some notice beyond the confines of our own 
county is St. Aloysius Academy near New Lexing- 
ton. It was organized in 1876 by Sisters of the Fran- 
ciscan Order. It has had a steady growth, both in the 
number of students and influence. The buildings have 
been enlarged from time to time and its students go 
out into life with nothing but praise for the efficiency 
of instruction received from those sisters. 

Mills. 

The first manufacturing establishment of our 
county was the grist mill. The mills were called "corn 
crackers." Their motive power was the horse. There 
were dozens of these in the county. A little later mills 
were built along the streams. They were water mills 
and they not only ground corn and wheat but also 
sawed lumber. The saw resembled our modern cross- 
cut saw, and it stood upright. The boards could not 
be sawed off the logs entirely, and an ax was used to 
complete the work. There was hardly a stream in the 
county that had not several mills upon it. Jonathan 
Creek was "lined" with them. Hood's Run that flows 
from Somerset toward the Moxahala had five within 
as many miles. The best known of these were those of 



114 HISTORY OF PERR,Y COUNTY. 

I'arkinson and Hood, near Somerset. Little Monday- 
creek had three within three miles. Big Mondaycreek 
had several, while Sundaycreek and its tributaries and 
the South Fork of the Moxahala and Rush Creek had 
their quota. These old mills have disappeared as far 
as their being used is concerned. The dilapidated 
ruins of some are yet to be seen, while in many a far- 
mer's field the boy of to-day looks with wonder at 
two great, round pieces of rock with a hole in the 
center of each. These are the burr stones that ground 
the grain for our forefathers. 

The presence of so many mills along our streams 
in foriner days shows how abundant the running water 
was and what a change has taken place. Few of our 
creeks could now furnish enough water. The cutting 
of the timber is thought to be the cause of this change. 

To James Moore of Bearfield Township, belongs 
the honor of being the inventor of the portable saw 
mill. It did its first work in Bearfield Township. It 
was only an eight horse power mill, but it was a great 
.step in the evolution of the manufacture of lumber. 

Oil Works. 

Before the days of petroleum the tallow dip served 
to light the pioneer cabin. Just before the Civil War 
it was discovered that a vein of cannel coal, which had 
its outcrop in Mondaycreek Township, contained a 
large percentage of oil. 

On Coalbrook, a branch of Little Mondaycreek a 
plant for the extraction of the oil was erected and for 
many years did a thriving business. There are yet 
living in Mondaycreek, many people who remember 
seeing the surface of the stream covered with the re- 
fuse oil from the Coalbrook oil works. 




OLD SALT WORKS AT McCUNEVILLE. 




A TOBACCO HOUSE. 



HISTORV OF PERRY COUNTY. llo 

A similar plant existed west of Maxville. It was 
more extensive and did a i^reater amount of business. 
Large kettles were used in the extraction of the oil. 
The abundance of petroleum coming from the Penn- 
sylvania oil fields made the manufacture unprofitable. 
The oil factories were razed to the ground and noth- 
ing but the burnt earth and loose stones from the old 
chimneys, yet remain to testify to this former Perry 
County industry. 

The Old Salt Kettle. 

The picture of the large kettle is taken from one 
that was used to boil salt water three-quarters of a 
century ago. It was used at the "salt lick" where 
McCuneville now stands. The Manufacture of salt 
began in 1826 and continued for some time. But the 
simplicity of manufacture was unequal to more ad- 
vanced methods and it was discontinued. Nothing 
remained but a stone chimney that stood for forty 
years, as a monument of days of yore. But the old 
kettles still exist. The writer knows of at least three, 
yet doing service in the way of watering troughs or 
for boiling water at butchering time. 

The McCune Salt Works. 

The picture represents the McCune Salt Works at 
McCuneville. \Yhen the Straitsville branch of the 
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was built to Shawnee, 
Mr. McCune of Newark, erected a considerable plant 
for the manufacture of salt. He expended about 
$40,000 in boring wells and getting improved ma- 
chinery. A town sprang up and it gave every evidence 
of permanency. But the plant was bought by a "trust" 



116 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

and it shut down never to operate again. Nothing 
remains of these works and their past existence is 
like the shadow of a dream. 

Tobacco Houses. 

The picture represents one of the last of its 
kind. Fifty years ago the tobacco house was a fam- 
iliar object. It has since gone into decay or been con- 
verted into stables or sheds, till it is a difficult task to 
find one in a good state of preservation. It has been 
relegated to the past. But the sight of one, or its 
picture, is an object lesson in the history of the develop- 
ment of the county. Without it the pioneer settler 
would not have been able to pay his taxes, to buy the 
farm necessities which he himself could not produce, 
nor to pay for the land itself. Nothing that the 
pioneer could produce had such a market value as 
tobacco. The soil of the county, especially in the 
southern part, was peculiarly adapted to its growth. 
It had the added merit of being the easiest crop raised. 
A very small patch of it yielded very large returns 
in comparison with other crops. It could be planted 
among the stumps of deadened trees and be cultivated 
by hand. When the leaves were ready for gathering 
they were stripped from the stalk and strung upon 
long sticks. These were hung upon poles in the to- 
bacco houses. The houses were built very high, that 
the tobacco might be out of the reach of the flames. 
l"he entire upper part, reaching to the rafters was 
filled. Then a fire was started and the members of 
the family took turns at watching. It required close 
attention for a single spark striking the drying leaves 
would often set it on fire and cro'p and building would 
go up in smoke. This was always a calamity, for it 




REMAINS OF A MAXVILLE LTME-KILN. 




AN OLD TIME POTTERY, 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 117 

meant that the pioneer family would have to go with- 
out some things, and money would have to be borrowed 
to pay the taxes and probably for a payment on the 
land. 

Rehoboth and Maxville were the tobacco emporiums 
of the county. Huge warehouses were erected at these 
places, and the business that was done in a single day, 
during the tobacco season, was greater than is now 
done in the same village, in two months. It has not 
been many years since the old warehouse at Maxville 
was razed to the ground. The tobacco house occu- 
pied a very prominent place in the industrial history 
of the county. 

Lime-Kilns. 

The lime-kilns of Perry County were also factors 
in the industrial progress of the county's early his- 
tor}-. Before the mines had begun to pour out their 
black streams of wealth, before the iron ores were 
being" utilized, the lime deposits were drawn upon and 
changed into "coin of the realm" for their owners. 
With the exception of the salt, the limestone was the 
first mineral of the county to be used. Maxville was 
the center of this industry. Here in the early thirties 
the sub-carboniferous strata was quarried and burned. 
Logan, New Lexington, Lancaster and all intermedi- 
ate points, went to Maxville to get lime to plaster their 
houses. The kilns were built of stone, placed against 
a bank. The lime was poured through an aperture 
in the top, and after sufficient burning it was raked 
through an opening in the bottom. Once, many of 
these kilns were in operation at ^laxville, but they 
have all disappeared, and their site is now known only 
by the presence of piles of l)urnt lime, around a depres- 
sion in the earth. The picture here shown is such a 



118 • HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

representation. There were also a few kilns west of 
Carthon where the sub-carboniferous crops out near 
the tops of the hills. The last kiln ceased to operate 
in the county about 1885. The large quarries in the 
northern part of the state where the lime was more 
accessible, produced it more cheaply, although not 
better in quality. 

An Old Time Pottery. 

"Turn, turn, my wheel ! All things must change 
To something new, to something strange; 
Nothing that is can pause or stay; 
The moon will wax, the moon will wane, 
The mist and cloud will turn to rain. 
The rain to mist and cloud again. 
To-morrow be to-day." — Longfellow. 

The poet makes the potter sing truly, when he says, 

"All things must change, 
To something new, to something strange, \ 
Nothing that is can pause or stay." 

There is no industry in which that truth is more 
manifest than in the manufacture of pottery itself. 
True, a great deal of the product is yet shaped by hand, 
but the large concerns at Crooksville, employing scores 
of men, the work being done by machinery that turns 
out thousands where dozen were originally produced, 
is in sharp contrast to the "old timers," where the clay 
was ground by the family horse, and the wheel was 
turned by the foot. The kilns were but overgrown 
bake-ovens. \''erily the world "do move." 

The utilization of potter's clay has for over sixty 
years been an important industry in the county. As 
early as 1838, Caleb Atwater, Ohio's first historian, 
in speaking of Perry county said, "A white clay is 




A t^HOST OF T)I-:i'AUTI-:i) IXDl'Srin-. I'.AIKD ITRXACE. 




MODEL COAL MINE, CONGO. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 139 

found in abundance, suitable for pots and crucibles. 
It stands the heat very well, growing whiter when it 
is exposed to the greatest heat. It will one day be used 
extensively in the manufacture of Liverpool earthen- 
ware. It contains no iron and is almost infusible be- 
fore the blow-pipe." 

The neighborhood of Saltillo has furnished earth- 
enware for a long time. Along Buckeye Creek and 
the South Fork of Jonathan, the potteries were fre- 
quent. About the time of the Civil War, a pottery was 
conducted in Mondaycreek. It produced a good qual- 
ity of ware. 

Caleb At water's prophecy has proved to be true. 
The clays of Perry county are the best in the world. 
The manufacture of brick, stoneware or Portland 
cement can here be made a source of great profit. The 
abundance of clay, the presence of the coal fields, 
and the railroad facilities are making Perry county 
famous in the clay business. Perry county clay-ware 
is shipped in car lots to the states of the west and 
the south-west and the business bids fair to increase 
as the years go by. 

Blast Furnaces. 

"And far in the hazy distance 
Of that lovely night in June. 
The blaze from the flaming furnace 
Gleamed redder than the moon." — Longfellow. 

At one time the flames of seven blast furnaces in 
our count}- lighted the mid-night sky. Just a few rods 
across the Perry-Hocking line two cithers poured out 
their molten mass of the useful metal. 

The furnaces of Perry County were the first tO' 
utilize the raw coal in the production of iron. 



120 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

Baird Furnace, in Mondaycreek, was the pioneer 
Furnace in this region. Mr. Samuel Baird had charge 
of the old char-coal furnace at Logan and became 
thoroughly acquainted with the mineral resources 
of southern Perry. Mr. Baird purchased quite a 
tract of land in eastern Mondaycreek, for the purpose 
of manufacturing iron from the native material. Many 
experienced iron men thought it a rash undertaking. 
The site of the furnace was three miles from a rail- 
road. It would be expensive to get the product of 
his furnace to market. But Mr. Baird knew "his 
business." He built the furnace on an entirely new 
|)lan. The stack was placed against the hill. The 
coal was mined a few rods back of it and the track 
from the mine led to the top of the stack. The na- 
tive ore was taken from the hills and the Maxville 
and Zoar limes were used as flux. 

It was asserted that pig-iron could be manufactured 
here cheaper than any place in the world. It was 
doubted. In January, 1876. the American Manufac- 
inrcr contained a description of this furnace and the 
following estimate of the cost of a ton of iron. 

Two and three-fourths tons of coal, at 50 

cents, $1,375, say $1 40 

Two and three- fourths tons of ore, at $2.25.. . 6 00 
Three- fourths ton of limestone, at $1.30, or 

$1.05, say 1 10 

Labor 3 00 

Repairs 1 00 

Interest and discount 50 

Total $13 00 

It is said that the iron trade at the time of the 
building of Baird Furnace was in a depressed state, 
but the price of stone-coal pig in the markets ranged 



HTSTOR\^ OF PERRY COUNTY. 121 

from $21 to $31 per ton. This still left a large margin 
for profits. After one year's experience, Mr. Baird 
furtlier astonished the iron men with another state- 
ment, as follows : 

Ore from furnace land $3 85 

Ore if pnrcliased $6 00 

Coal 1 60 1 60 

Limestone 1 00 1 00 

Labor, repairs and interest 4 40 5 40 

Totals $13 00 $11 85 

The cost of the furnace was $45,000. After con- 
structing the road over which the iron was hauled by 
oxen and counting the cost of construction as current 
expense, the net profits of the first year's work was 
$25,000 or 55 per cent of the original cost of the 
furnace. 

It is not surprising that other furnaces soon fol- 
lowed. Gen. Thomas built one at Gore just across 
the county line. 

Another one, Winona, was erected a few rods from 
the Perry line on Little Monday creek. 

Moss and Marshall built the Bessie Furnace near 
Straitsville. This Furnace is yet running. It produces 
a peculiar grade of iron which is in great demand. 

Three Furnaces were built in Shawnee. They 
were the Fannie, the XX and the New York. The 
latter is the only one now riuming. At Moxahala, 
another was operated until removed to Columbus. 
Some of these ftirnaces have been entirely taken away 
while others are falling into ruins from disuse. The 
discovery of larger mineral fields and the decline in 
the price of iron has been the cause of the abandon- 
ment of the extensive manufacture of iron in our 
county. 



122 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

Coal Mines. 

The greatest of our industries is coal mining. No 
county in the State surpasses Perry in the produc- 
tion of coal, nor in the use of modern appliances 
necessary for its successful mining. 

The pioneers of the county were in total ignorance 
of the immense wealth that lay buried beneath them. 
Many even did not know that there was coal here. 
It had no attractions for the hardy settler who found 
a sufficient supply of fuel in the forest around his 
home. He had to cut the trees down in order to have 
fields for cultivation. He had to burn the wood and 
if he could use it to warm his home he considered 
himself fortunate and counted it so much clear gain. 

It is not known when the presence of coal in our 
hills was first discovered. But as early as 1816 it was 
used to a limited extent. It soon found its way into 
some of the well-to-do houses in town, public buildings, 
etc. Somerset got her supply from the mines in the 
neighborhood of St. Joseph's. Dr. Ponjade, a French- 
man, operated a mine near Rehoboth in 1830. At 
about the same time the mines of Mondaycreek and 
Saltlick were opened. 

When the old Cincinnati, Wilmington and Zanes- 
ville, now the C. & M. V. Railroad, was built coal min- 
ing became of some importance in the neighborhood of 
McLuney. The coal was shipped mostly to the towns 
along that road. 

The coal era of our county began in 1870. 
Through the efforts of Col. James Taylor and others, 
the vast mineral resources of the county were made 
known to the world. Capital flowed here and rail- 
roads were being built. The Baltimore and Ohio ex- 




POWER HOUSE AT CONGO MINE. 




THE CORNINt; OIL FIELD. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 1'23 

tending into Saltlick, opened up that territory and 
Shawnee is the result. The Hocking Valley Railroad 
ran a branch to Straitsville and New Straitsville be- 
came quite a village in a short time. The Atlantic and 
Lake Erie, now the Ohio Central Railroad, pene- 
trated into the Sundaycreek A'alley, and Corning and 
Rendville sprang up as if by magic. The Columbus 
and Eastern, now the Columbus. Sandusky and Hock- 
ing gave Clayton township access to the world and her 
coal found a ready market. 

The coal field is in no wise exhausted. Towns are 
still springing up, new mines are being opened and 
it will be many a day before we can say of the coal 
industry what we can of the iron. 

The mine at Congo is one of the model mines of the 
country. It has been operated about ten years and 
tens of thousands of tons of the "Black Diamonds" 
have passed over its screens. 

Oil Wells. 

It was a fortunate thing for Corning and vicinity 
that petroleum was discovered when it was. In Au- 
gust, 1 89 1, the Toledo and Ohio Central Railroad was 
suffering from a scarcity of water. A deep well was 
being drilled at the round house. At a depth of 
630 feet salt water was struck. This could not be 
used. They accordingly cased off this water and 
bored the well to a depth of 1507 feet. They yet found 
no water, and work ceased for a few days, when they 
were surprised to find that oil had been thrown on the 
top of the derrick. 

This discovery caused the oil men to flock to the 
territory and it was not long until derricks could be 
seen on every hill. In June. 1892. the first well was 



124 [rtSTOKV OF PERRY COUNTY. 

shot in section 14, Madison township with eighty 
quarts of glycerine which had been brought by wagon 
from Sistersville. W. Va. 

The oil development began about the time of the 
panic of 1893. Corning hardly knew what "Hard 
times" were. It is estimated that there has been over 
1,200 producing wells in the entire field. The flow of 
oil is not so great as formerly. A pipe line carries the 
oil to Marietta, a distance of thirty-four miles. This 
line began operation in 1893. The oil had previously 
been transported in tanks on cars. When the pipe 
line first began to work the daily output from the field 
was 500 barrels. In 1896 it had increased to 1.300 
barrels daily. It is now considerably less. 

According to official reports, the Buckeye Pipe 
Line in the seven years, from 1893 to 1900, had trans- 
ported 2,227,303 barrels. The amount produced since 
then would be a considerable augmentation to the 
above figures. 

The Inventor of a Revolver. 

Several vears before the Colt's Revolvers were in- 
vented, Adam Humberger, a gunsmith in Somerset 
had made three models. He was of an inventive mind 
and somewhat of a genius in his line. On a muster 
day in Somerset, sometime back in the thirties, he 
tested the utility of his invention before several hun- 
dreds of people, with great success. He, however, 
never realized any pecuniary benefit from his inven- 
tion. He also invented a corn harvester but died be- 
fore it was perfected. 




MONUMENT TO 31ST O. V. 1., Mi\\ 
LEXINGTON, OHIO. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 125 

Perry County in War. 

Our county need not be ashamed of her war record. 
In every war in which our country has been engaged, 
except the Revolution, Perry county has furnished her 
quota. Beneath her sod rests men who were partici- 
pants in that first great struggle of ours in which we 
secured our independence. 

Quite a number of the first settlers in the county 
were Revolutionary soldiers. Christian Binckley, of 
whom mention has already been made, camfe from 
Maryland, where he had rendered important service to 
his country. 

Wm. Dusenberry, the first settler in Madison town- 
ship, served in the army under Washington. 

Daniel Devore. buried in a little cemetery east of 
Corning, was also a member of the Continental army. 

There are quite a number of others especially in 
the north of the county. 

• During the War of 1812. Perry county, as such did 
not exist. The men who enlisted from here were ac- 
credited to Fairfield. It is not known how many sol- 
diers were in that war from Perry county, but a few 
are known. They were John Fowler, the first settler 
of Pike township ; John Lidey, of Reading and Henry 
Hazelton, of Saltlick. 

When the Mexican War broke out, our citizens 
were not long in answering the call of President Polk 
for volunteers. Two companies were organized in 
this county under Captains Noles and Filler. These 
companies were taken to the scene of the war but they 
were never in a pitched battle. They did some fight- 
ing with the guerilla troops only. There is one sur- 



1*26 HISTORY OF PERRV COUNTY. 

vivor of this War in l^erry County, ATr. Joel Spohn, 
of Reading-. 

When the news of the fall of Fort Sumter came to 
New Lexins^ton, Lyman J. Jackson, who was then 
Prosecutino- Attorney, resigned his ofifice, and at once 
began to raise a company. In a few days a sufficient 
number had enlisted and they were mustered in as 
Company E of the 17th O. V. I. They were under 
Gen. McClellan and did service in West Virginia. 
They were what is known as the "Hundred Day" men. 

When President Lincoln called for volunteers for 
three years, Major John W. Free, at once raised a 
company in the southern townships. It took but a few 
days until his men were ready to go to Camp Chase, 
where they were mustered in as Company A of the 
31st Ohio. 

A few weeks later Col. W. H. Free, a brother of 
the Major, had raised another company in Pike, Salt- 
lick. Monroe and Clayton townships. His company be- 
came Company D of the 31st. 

In the meantime, Capt. Jackson's term of enlist- 
ment had expired. He at once began to raise another 
company, which became Company G of the 31st. 

The Thirty-first Regiment did valiant service at 
Stone River, fought with stubborn resistance at Chick- 
amauga, swept over Mission Ridge, was with Sher- 
man at Atlanta, and with him marched to the sea. 

Capt. John F. Fowler of New Lexington, raised a 
company which reported at Camp Chase and entered 
as Company D, 30th O. V. I. This regiment was under 
fire at the second Bull Run contest. The Perry county 
company was in the hottest of the fight at South 
Mountain, took an honorable part at Antietam, was 
present at the investment of Vicksburg, participated 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 127 

in the battle of Mission Ridge, went with Sherman to 
the sea, was a part of the attacking- force that stormed 
Ft. McAlHster, and then when the war was over, 
marched in Grand Review in the Capital City. 

The Sixty-second regiment was full of Perry Coun- 
tians. There were three full companies from this 
county and two other companies were composed mostly 
of Perry men. This regiment saw service under Gen. 
Rosecrans at the first battle of Winchester. It took 
part in the bloody assault at Fort Wagner. It assisted 
at the siege at Petersburg. Many of its men fell at 
Deep Bottom and some saw the final conflict under 
Grant at Appomattox. 

Company H of the Ninetieth Regiment was re- 
cruited in this county by Col. N. F. Hitchcock. This 
regiment lost heavily at Stone River under Rosecrans. 
It was with Thomas at Nashville when he was taking 
care of Hood, that Sherman's campaign might be a 
success. 

The One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment con- 
tained two companies from Perry county. Company 
G was composed mostly of men from Mondaycreek and 
Jackson townships. Company I, was recruited in the 
northern townships. This regiment was present at the 
fall of Vicksburg and did service in Arkansas and 
Texas. It suffered considerably with disease, caused 
bv the unhealthful climate. In the One Hundred and 
Twenty-sixth, Company K was composed of men from 
Thorn, Hopewell and Madison townships. This regi- 
ment saw some service. It was a part of the army of 
the Potomac and took part in the battle of the Wil- 
derness, Spottsylvania and Cold Harbor. It was with 
Sheridan at Winchester and saw the gallant Perry 
Countian ride on the field at Cedar Creek. They lay 



128 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

before Richmond and went with Sherman to receive 
the surrender of Johnson. 

Quite a number of men from our county belonged 
to the Seventeenth Regiment, after it re-organized for 
the three years' service. There was in the aggregate 
about one company. enHsted by Captains Stinchcomb 
and Ricketts. This regiment participated in the battles 
of Stone River, Chickamauga and Mission Ridge. It 
w^as in the Atlanta campaign and subsequently went 
witli Sherman to the sea. 

Company K of the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth 
was enlisted in our county. It was under the command 
of Burnside and did active service in Tennessee, par- 
ticularly at Cumberland Gap. 

The Legislature of Ohio in 1863 passed an act for 
the organization of the Ohio National Guard. Six full 
companies were organized in Perry county. They be- 
came a part of the One Hundred and Sixtieth, O. N. 
G. It did work in the Shenandoah valley, guarding 
supply trains and keeping down the guerillas. They 
had one skirmish with the celebrated Mosby Com- 
mand. 

Perry county did her full duty in the Great Civil 
Conflict. From General Sheridan down to the hum- 
blest private, she deserves her share of the honors. 
Her sons fought along side of the best and bravest. 
They poured out their blood upon the fields of con- 
flict. They suffered from disease in hospitals and far 
worse did they suffer in prison pens. All honor to the 
men whom Perry county sent forth when her country 
called. 

In the Spanish-American War several Perry county 
boys saw active service in Cuba, Porto Rico, and the 
Philippines. One company was enlisted in this county. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 129 

Captain T. D. Binckley at the head of Company A, 
Seventh O. V. I., spent the summer of 1898 at Camp 
Alger, Va., and Camp Mead, Pa., waiting for the call 
to go to the front. The war closed too soon and the 
boys came home to pursue the ways of peace. 

Perry County in Congress. 

Our county has furnished two men to occupy seats 
in the United States House of Representatives. Each 
of them served two full terms and one an unexpired 
term, thus giving the county over eight years in Con- 
gress. 

In 1846 Gen. Thomas Ritchey, a farmer of Mad- 
ison township v/as elected. He lived about one mile 
west of Sego on the Maysville Pike. It was during 
this term that Phil Sheridan, then a boy in Somerset, 
applied for admission to West Point, and secured it 
through Congressman Ritchey. General Ritchey had 
served in the capacity of County Treasurer some years 
previous. In 1852 he was again elected from the 
eleventh district. Congressman Ritchey was a Demo- 
crat in politics. He led on his farm a quiet and unas- 
suming life. He died from the effects of a burn and is 
buried in the Zion M. E. Cemetery, in Madison town- 
ship. 

Our next Congressman from Perry county was 
William E. Fincke of Somerset. He was nominated 
by the Democratic party and elected to the 38th and 
39th Congresses from the twelfth district, and again 
later to fill out the term made vacant by H. J. Jewett. 
He- served during the Civil War, his first election be- 
ing in 1862. While in Congress he was a member of 
the judiciary committee. Congressman Fincke was 
9 H. p. c. 



1-JO l[[STOR^' OF PERRY COUNTY. 

born in Somerset in 1822. He was educated at St. 
Joseph's. Admitted to the practice of law at the age 
of twenty-one, he was ahnost immediately appointed 
Prosecuting Attorney. He was originally a Whig 
and in 1848 was the candidate for Congress on that 
ticket, coming within a few votes of being elected in a 
Democratic district. In 1854 when Know-Nothing-ism 
swept the Whig party out of existence. Mr. Fincke 
allied himself with the Democratic party. He repre- 
sented Perry and Muskingum counties in the 50th and 
51st General Assemblies, and was the Democratic 
nominee for the offices of ^Attorney General and Judge 
of the Supreme Court on the state ticket. 

Mr. Fincke died in 1901. He was a gentleman of 
the old school — courteous, affable and dignified ; hon- 
ored by all who knew him, and respected because of his 
sterling worth, honesty and integrity. 

Removal of the County Seat. 

When the county was organized, New Lexington 
and Rehoboth were aspirants for the honor of being 
the county seat. When Somerset secured the prize, 
these villages were very jealous of their successful 
rival. As the south of the county became more densely 
populated, agitation for the removal of the county seat 
to a more "central" position was begun. Rehoboth 
and New Lexington could both agree upon the word 
"central." About 1840 Rehoboth came to a standstill 
in her growth and her fate was sealed. New Lexing- 
ton became the sole rival of Somerset. 

During the decade beginning with 1840, several 
men were elected to the Legislature with the expec- 
tation that they would secure the passage of a bill for 
the removal of the county seat. In 1849 it had become 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNT'S'. 131 

a question of such importance that the issue on the 
election of Representative was "Removal," or "Let 
well enough alone." In this election, the friends of 
removal carried the day. In 185 1 after a hard struggle 
and considerable "lobbying" a bill was passed for the 
removal to New Lexington, provided that a majority 
of the electors of the county so wished. The contest 
which followed was a most exciting one. The result 
showed that "For Removal" had a majority of 292. 

The Somerset people then put the matter into the 
courts to test the constitutionality of the law that pro- 
vided for the election. Allen G. Thurman was then a 
judge of the District Court and his opinion was that 
the law was entirely in accord with the constitution. 
This put the county seat at New Lexington. But there 
was no Court House at that place in which to store 
the records. 

The Somerset people then succeded in securing the 
passage of a bill for the "removal" back to Somerset. 
This, too, was left to the electors. In 1853 the second 
election was held. It was even more exciting than the 
first one. The Democratic* party was divided. The 
Whigs put no ticket into the field. Somerset was 
filled with strangers, wdio were working on the rail- 
road that was to run through that place. New Lex- 
ington was filled with strangers who were working on 
the Cincinnati, Wilmington and Zanesville Railroad. 
Somerset voted these strangers without inquiring too 
closely as to their residence. So, too, did New Lexing- 
ton. The New Lexington contingent paid men who 
lived along the border of adjoining counties two dollars 
per day to move their families across the line till after 
the election. So too, did Somerset. Election day 
came and Somerset won. New Lexincjton cried 



132 MISUiKV OF PERRY COUNTY. 

"fraud." Somerset did not deny it. Their reply was 
that you "fight fire with fire." This result allowed the 
capital to remain at Somerset. 

It was now New Lexington's turn to go into the 
courts and demand an opinion as to the constitution- 
ality of the law under which Somerset gained her vic- 
tory. It was several years before the decision. came. 
It was to the effect that the law was in dire conflict 
with constitutional prerogative and, therefore, the elec- 
tion held thereunder was- null and void. That meant 
that the first law was still in force. In January, 1857, 
the removal was made by wagon over the hills, and 
New Lexington was happy. Somerset was equally de- 
pressed but full of "fight," for in 1859 they succeeded 
in naming the Democratic candidate for Representa- 
tive. Their candidate was persona non grata to the 
Lexingtonians, who proceeded to nominate another. 
Tw^o Democratic tickets in the field and no Republican, 
made things intensely interesting. The election was 
exciting. The people were desperate. It was the final 
struggle. New Lexington won and Somerset was 
ready to quit. New Lexington was glad of the chance. 

The agitation and contest over the affair, from the 
beginning to the finality covered a period of eighteen 
years. Wars in which the destiny and fate of nations 
have been determined, have occupied considerable less 
time. The county seat question made a "Mason and 
Dixon Line" in our county, which is even yet retraced 
on special occasions. 

It may not be generally known that when the 
Somerset party saw that it was "all up" with them, 
a petition was presented to the Ohio Legislature, "pray- 
ing" for the dissolution of Perry county and the divi- 
sion of her territory among the contiguous counties. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. ISZ 

This petition was presented by the Representative of 
Morgan county. The original, containing the names of 
many of the prominent citizens of northern Perry, was 
found in a barrel, stowed away in an attic, some years 
since. The author tells this as a matter of history. His 
information came from a reliable citizen of Morgan 
county, whose veracity can not be questioned. It only 
serves to show to what height sectional feeling had 
arisen over the permanent location of the county seat. 

Public Buildings. 

Including John Fink's Tavern at Somerset, our 
county has her fifth Court House. Justice was dis- 
pensed there at the first while the various offices were 
located in rented rooms. In 1819 a stone and brick 
building was erected on South Columbus street, in 
Somerset, as a jail. A court room and some of the 
offices were also included. The cost of this building 
was $2,335. This was our capitol till 1829, when a 
new Court House was built on the north side of the 
Public Square. This building still stands as it was 
then built, with the exception of a jail, joined to it in 
1848, and some recent repairs. The original building 
of 1829 cost the tax payers of Perry County $6,600, 
while the jail, built to it was erected for the sum of 
$6,195.92. The 1829 buildjng was not large enough 
to accommodate all of the offices. A part of them re- 
mained in the old jail building, till the new one was 
completed. 

Over the main door O'f the Court House can y.et be 
seen that wonderful inscription — 

"Let Justice be done. 
If the Heavens should fall." 



134 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

-\s to its real meaning this inscription has long been 
an enigma. It is a case wherein considerable reading 
between the lines can be indulged. If the period after 
the word dune be changed to a comma, as was evidently 
the intention, we are left in a considerable quandary 
as to the time when justice will prevail. If the period 
be allowed to remain, then we have two sentences. The 
first one sounds very well and is a noble sentiment. 
Then after the second sentence we are obliged to place 
an exclamation point, all of which then seems to con- 
vey the idea, that the justice therein administered, was 
such a rarity, that when it was rendered, the heavens 
would certainly collapse. 

The first Court House at New Lexington was not 
paid for by the tax payers. The friends of removal to 
New Lexington, by private subscription, raised the 
necessary amount. One of the stipulations in the Act 
for the change of the county seat, was that suitable 
buildings should be provided. After the completion 
of the building it stood vacant for several years before 
the offices were placed in it. 

The present Court House was built in 1887, at a 
cost of $143,000. It is one of the finest buildings for 
its purpose in the state. 

The original County Infirmary was built in 1839 
and 1840. It was enlarged some time in the seventies. 
Strange to sa}- tliat the part built in 1839 is still in 
sufficiently good condition, to render it suitable to 
be built to by the new building that is now being con- 
structed, while the one more recently built has been 
condemned and is lieing torn down. The one that 
is now Iniilding will be a handsome structure, with all 
of the modern imjjrovements. It is to cost $35,000. 




OLD COURT HOUSE AT SOMERSET. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 135 

The Orphans' Home is a large commodious build- 
ing that has been prepared to shelter quite a number 
of children, ft is situated at the eastern edge of New 
Lexington and has been established about a dozen 
years. 

The Underground Railroad. 

"Many years ago on a dark, bitter cold night, if 
persons had passed the old M. E. Church in Deaver- 
town. and observed closely, they might have seen dim 
lights within, and heard low, strange whisperings while 
the winds whistled mournfully around the house and 
among the tombs of the dead. And if persons seeing 
and hearing this had become frightened and gone away 
without closer investigation, there would have been 
marvelous stories of a haunted house and church- 
yard, the secret of which, the death O'f two or three 
persons would have left forever unrevealed. But it 
was all very natural and easily accounted for." 

The above is quoted from the New Lexington 
Tribune of some years ago. It was written by Thomas 
Lonsdale Gray of Deavertown. He was a descendant 
of Lord Lonsdale of Xorth Yarmouth, England, and 
was one of the principal conductors on the famous "Un- 
derground Railroad." The picture shown is that of 
Mr. Gray and his home. The house has the same 
appearance as it had when it sheltered fugitive slaves. 

While the highway of runaway slaves did not pass 
directly through Perry county, yet it was so near the 
Perry-Morgan line and many times altogether in the 
county, that she too can sb.are in the glory of the 
"Underground." Between the years 1850-60 fugitive 
slaves were numerous. The lines of travel were well 
defined. Communities where a strong pro-slavery sen- 
timent prevailed were evaded. Stations were estab- 



186 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

lished at certain intervals and conductors were ever 
ready to assist in their flight. Deavertown seems to 
have been the convergence of two routes from the 
Ohio river. The most important of these was the one 
coming by the way of Pennsville, in Morgan county. 
Pennsville was a Quaker settlement. The other one 
came by way of Athens and followed the Athens and 
Zanesville road. This one passed through Porters- 
ville. From Deavertown the route extended to Zanes- 
ville. Roseville was not considered a healthful place 
and so they kept to the right. John Ball in Porters- 
ville made his home a stopping-place, while David H. 
Deaver, commanded the first one south of Deavertown. 
known as Station D. 

The subterfuges resorted to, makes highly interest- 
ing reading. The evasion of slave hunters, the putting 
them on the wrong scent and the narrow escapes are 
thrilling to say the least. Hundreds of slaves were 
transferred over this "railroad" and many people yet 
remember the "knock at the door" and the dark shadow 
that was ushered into the attic to await the next move. 

Morgan's Raid. 

"Morgan is coming! Morgan is coming!" This 
was the cry that startled the midniglit air, in southern 
Perry, as a galloping horseman, like Paul Revere, rode 
over our hills to arouse the "country folk to be up and 
to arm." "Then there was hurrying to and fro" for 
the iron hoof of war was approaching. The silver 
spoons and the silver watch and the gold car-rings, 
that were heirlooms in the family, were hidden behind 
the soap jar, in the dingiest corner of the smoke- 
house. And, Frank, the family horse, was suddenly 
aroused from his slumbers in the stall bv the bridle 




OLD COURT HOUSE AT NEW LEXINGTON. 





OUR TEMPLE OF JUSTICE. 
(Courtesy of New Lexington Herald.) 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 13/" 

"bit slipping into his mouth. He no doubt thought 
that now he would have to make a hurried run to New 
Lexington, Maxville or Oakfield for the doctor. But 
instead he was unceremoniously hustled down be- 
hind the barn, across ditches, through brier patches, to 
a remote ravine in the farthest corner of the farm, 
and tied to a sapling in a thicket, where he spent the 
remainder of the night in cogitation. 

Morgan was indeed coming. What route he would 
take no one knew. He was headed our way. Many 
stories were afloat as to his methods. The report 
generally was that he was robbing and burning every- 
thing in his pathway. A part of this was true. But 
when John Morgan, the Confederate cavalry leader, 
went through Perry county, he was not bent so much 
on devastation as he was to get out of the countr\'. 
Fresh horses and food were the most that he wanted. 
He was in the enemy's country and his reception was 
a little warmer than he had anticipated. He had 
thought that there were only a few old men and boys 
left here. While it was true that the most of our able 
bodied men were in the service of their country, there 
was still a sufficient number here, to make it exceed- 
ingly interesting for him, even if the National Guard 
that was sent to Marietta, to intercept him were 
armed only with tin-cups. Morgan's original inten- 
tion was to carry "grim-visaged war" into Ohio, but 
by the time he had been chased across the state and 
had zigzagged and criss-crossed his path several times, 
he had changed his mind to a considerable extent. 

Morgan had come into Ohio from Indiana, crossing 
the boundary at Harrison just north of Cincinnati. 
He was being closely pursued by General Hobson's 
cavalry. Hurridly crossing the state through the 



138 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

southern tier of counties, he attempted to cross the 
river at Buffington Island in Meigs county. Gun- 
boats had been sent up the river to intercept his cross- 
ing. Here on Sunday, July i8, 1863, was fought the 
only battle of the Civil War on Ohio soil. The Con- 
federates numbered about two thousand men. Mor- 
gan, with eight hundred succeeded in crossing the 
river. Seeing that he could not get all of his army 
across, he, himself came back to the Ohio side and 
started toward the west. His intention was to get 
the gunboats to go down the river, when he would 
suddenly turn and cross before they would have time 
to come back again. At Harrisonville he turned south 
and reached the river at Cheshire in Gallia county. 
Still he could not eilfect a crossing. Turning to the 
west again for a dozen miles he suddenly veered toward 
the north-east. His object irow was to outrun the 
pursuing cavalry, and reach the Ohio river in the neigh- 
borhood of Wheeling before the boats could arrive. 
It was on this race between him and General Shackle- 
ford, that he passed through our county. 

Morgan reached Nelsonville about ten o'clock in 
the morning. He burned some canal boats and rested 
his men till about two o'clock in the afternoon. He 
went only two miles more that day. He encamped 
for the night in a wheat field where a part of the 
village of Buchtel is now located. General Shackle- 
ford came into Nelsonville at four o'clock, six hours 
after the Raiders. His men and horses were dusty, 
tired and hungry. Morgan as he went along had taken 
the best horses and Shackleford was obliged to take 
what was left. Even with the Confederate force only 
two miles away, it was impossible to attempt their 
capture, after the four hours rest they had secured at 




OLD PERRY COUNTY INFIRMARY. 




A STATION ON THE " UNDERGROUND." THOMAS L. GRAY. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 139 

Nelsonville. The next morning- when Sliacklet'ord 
reached the top of the hill, from where he had seen 
on the evening- hefore, the enem\- in camp, he now saw 
that during the night the dashing Morgan had slipped 
away. He had gone up the trihutarv of Big Monda\-- 
creek, through where are now the towns of Orbiston 
and Murray, then crossing the Mondaycreek-Sunday- 
creek divide, struck our county in Section 35, Coal 
township, came down into the valley at Hemlock, 
followed the Sundaycreek Branch through Bucking- 
ham and reached Millertown sometime in the after- 
noon. Here he rested his men till six o'clock in the 
evening. He took some horses in the neighborhood 
of Buckingham. Four were taken from Squire Mc- 
Donald, one each from Morgan Devore, Mr. ^loore 
and Thomas Skenyon. 

Shackleford reached Millertown during the night 
and camped on the ground where Morgan had rested 
his men in the afternoon. It can be seen that the Union 
General was here losing grotmd. His men were so 
completely exhausted and their horses were in such a 
condition that the progress was verv slow. Richard 
Nuzum, ex-county commissioner of Perr}- county, 
went up to Millertown the next morning and found 
men sleeping all around. It was ten o'clock before 
the union forces left Millertown. Meanwhile ^lorgan 
had passed through where Corning now is, climbed the 
hill to the Chapel Hill Church, passed up to Porter- 
ville and then out of the county, camping for the night 
on Island Run in Morgan county. Morgan had 
pressed Henry Kuntz, a citizen of our countv. into 
his service as his pilot. Several New Lexington nicn 
whose curiosity was greater than their prudence went 
out on the trail of tlie Confederates. Suddenly thev 



140 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

rode into the camp on Island Run. Two of them 
were captured. They were taken along-, but were 
allowed their freedom somewhere over in Guernsey 
count}-. Morgan crossed the Muskingum at Eagles- 
port. i\t this place a furnace-man from Logan, who 
had joined Shackleford at Nelsonville, was sKot by 
a sharp-shooter, while he was reconnoitering on the 
high l)luffs above the Muskingum. General Shackel- 
ford captured Morgan near New Lisbon in Colum- 
biana county. The Confederate leader, was impris- 
oned for several months in the Ohio Penitentiary from 
which he made his escape. 

One of Morgan's men fell behind in our county. 
He was captured and taken to New Lexington, where 
he attracted considerable attention. He was sent to 
Camp Chase. Columbus, where Confederate prison- 
ers were kept during the war. 

Morgan's Raiders took what they wanted, and if 
no objections were made to their wholesale appro- 
priations, no one was molested. Tn closing this account 
we quote from Colborn's History of Perry county. 

" A plucky woman of Monroe township, who was 
riding along the road gave the raiders a piece of her 
mind. They did not retaliate in words, but gently 
lifted the lady from her saddle and appropriated her 
horse. Dr. W. H. Holden of Millertown, then on a 
tour of visits to his patients, was promptly relieved 
of his horse, but ^vas kindly permitted to retain his 
saddle-bags, which he carried the remainder of the 
way on his arm. as he trudged homeward on foot. A 
farmer was hauling a load of hay along the road. His 
team was halted, the harness stripped from the horses 
in a twinkling, and there the fanner sat upon his load 
i)f hav. a much astonished and bewildered individual. 



HISTORY OF PERRY CC>UNTY. 141 

There was a wool-picking party at the house of a 
farmer ; quite a number of ladies was there and sup- 
per was just announced. Morgan's men came in un- 
invited, appropriated all of the seats, and remarked 
that it was ver}- impolite to take precedence of the 
ladies, but that they were in a great hurry and could 
not afiford to wait. What they left in the way of eat- 
ables was hardly worth mentioning'.'" 

Population of Perry County. 

1820 8,459 

1830 13,970 

1840 19,844 

1850 20,775 

1860 19,678 

1870 18,453 

1880 28,218 

1890 31,151 

1900 31,841 

The census of i860 and 1870 show a decrease in 
population. The first was caused by the removal of 
Californian gold-hunters, known as the "Fifty-Sixers." 
The second decrease was the result of the Civil War. 

Constitutional Conventions. 

In the Constitutional Convention that met in Cin- 
cinnati in 185 1 and adopted Ohio's present constitu- 
tion. Perry county was represented by John Lidey, 
of Reading township. Mr. Lidey was a soldier in the 
war of 181 2 and at one time represented Perry county 
in the lower House of the Legislature. In 1871 the 
people of Ohio again voted for a Convention. It met 
in 1873 and our county w^as represented by Col. Ly- 
man J. Jackson. Col Jackson was a descendent from 
New England Puritans and has the reputation of being 



142 l[ISTORV OF PKRKV COUNTY. 

the iMrst X'olunteer from I 'erry County in the Civil 
War. .\t that time he was I'rosecuting Attorney 
of the coimty, but resioiied to org'anize a company 
of which he was Captain. He was afterward appointed 
Colonel of the 159th O. \'. I. .\fter the war he repre- 
sented the Fifteenth District, consisting^ of Perry and 
Muskingum comities, in the ( )hio Senate. The Con- 
stitution of 1871 was never ratified by the people of 
( )hio became of the clause licensing' the liquor traffic. 

Col. James H. Taylor. 

A history of Perry county would be far from com- 
plete if it neglected to say, at least, a few words con- 
cerning- the man, who had, more than any other man, 
to do with the development of her great mineral re- 
sources. " Pomp and circumstance " too often at- 
tract our attention, and we give our honors to less de- 
serving persons. While on the other hand, there may 
be within our ranks. ])eople toiling, unobtrusively 
and alone, whose labors will have greater results and 
be of more lasting benefit. 

Perry countians delight in telling about the dashing- 
Sheridan, the versatile and brilliant MacGahan, the 
scholarly Zahm. the financier Elkins and the statesman, 
Rusk, pjut there lies in the New Lexington ceme- 
tery a man to whose memory every village in southern 
Pcrr\', every coal mine and every railroad is a living 
monument. From [865 to 1868, Col. James H. Taylor 
])rospected over the hills of Perry county. He went 
from farm to farm, carrying with him an old carpet 
bag, in which he placed specimens of coal and ore. As 
lie went about digging here and there, and telling some 
old farmer that a wonderful vein of coal was on his 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 143 

farm, he was looked upon as a sort of lunatic — but 
harmless. He met many a bland smile of incredulity. 

His knowledge of mineralogy not only served him 
well in this pursuit l)ut he was also a vigorous writer. 
As soon as he satisfied himself of the abundance of the 
mineral wealth, he began to write a series of articles 
for the Columbus, Cincinnati and New York papers. 
These attracted wide attention. The result was that 
capitalists began to be interested. Many discourage- 
ments attended the early development but when fairly 
started, the growth was phenomenal. Within ten 
years the population of the county had doubled. Shaw- 
nee, Corning, Straitsville and other villages sprang 
into existence. Furnaces were erected. Mines were 
opened. Railroads were built. Many of the men 
interested became millionaires. Among them were 
Gen. Samuel Thomas, Ex-Senator Brice, and Ex-Gov- 
ernor Foster. But the discoverer of all this wealth 
and its chief promoter never received any financial 
reward. He and other Perry county associates had 
125,000 acres of the best mineral land in the county, 
but the panic of 1873 came and they went down in 
the crash and outsiders reaped the harvest. 

Col. James Taylor was born in Harrison township, 
this county. May 3, 1825. He descended from ances- 
tors who had always taken active interest in public 
affairs. His grandfather had served on the staff of 
Gen. Monroe in the Revolutionary War. His father 
fought in the war with Mexico. He, himself, served 
throughout the Civil War. On the maternal side the 
blood of Simon Kenton, the celebrated Indian fighter 
and scout, ran through his veins. He had but limited 
educational advantages, such as came to most boys of 
his time. However he was a great student of history. 



144 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

This, with a most wonderful memory, made him au- 
thority on many subjects and eminently fitted him 
for newspaper work. The last fifteen years of his 
life were spent as editorial writer for the Ohio State 
Journal. In 1883 when Henry George was spreading 
his political theories he published a pamphlet in reply. 
This had an immense sale and provoked much dis- 
cussion. He died Jan. 25, 1891. He certainly de- 
serves to be called one of Perry County's prominent 
sons. 

Stephen Benton Elkins. 

It is said that great men come from the hills. If 
this statement were doubted, the incredulous would 
only need to glance over the history of southern Ohio 
and be convinced. With Somerset as the center, there 
can be found within a radius of fifty miles, the birth- 
places of more men of eminence than in any similar 
area in the United States. 

Perry county has furnished her quota in this array 
of celebrities. The men and women who braved the 
terrors of frontier life, to build for themselves homes 
in a new land were of a hardy and thrifty character. 
Their children schooled in this "rough and ready" life, 
developed the iron nerve and the conservative temper- 
ment, that makes man master of situations. 

From the rude homesteads on the hill-side farms 
of old Perry, have gone out into the various avenues 
of life, men, who have been the progressive factors in 
the building up of manv settlements in the great west 
and southwest. While they may not have attained to 
such a high eminence as some, yet thev have filled their 
places and deserve no less credit for what they have 
done. It is with some degree of pride that we claim for 
Perry county, the birthplace of Stephen Benton Elkins, 




STEPHEN B. ELKINS. 



O^?.' 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 145 

He was born on a farm about three miles southeast of 
Thornville, in Section 13, Thorn township, September 
26, 1 84 1, His early years were spent here. Moving 
with his parents to Missouri, he partly educated him- 
self in the public schools. At the age of only nineteen 
he graduated from the University of the State, with 
first honors. He then studied law. He was admitted 
to the bar in 1863, joined the Union army, and served 
in the rank of Captain. Crossing the plains to New 
Mexico in 1864, he determined to win success in that 
sparsely settled border country. Seeing that his igno- 
rance of Spanish would be in the way of his ambition, 
he set to work and in one year was master of it. His 
clientage rapidly grew, and his popularity with it. 
For in less than two years after his arrival, he was 
elected to the territorial legislature. The next year he 
was made Attorney-General of the territory. The suc- 
ceeding year President Johnson appoint ' him United 
States District Attorney for New Mexico. While oc- 
cupying this position it became his duty to see that the 
law forbidding slavery should be enforced. This he 
did in such a decisive manner that it gave him greater 
prestige than ever. In 1869 he went into the banking 
buGiness, thus beginning his phenomenal career as a 
financier. Investing his money judiciously in lands 
and mines, he became immensely wealthy. In 
1873 he was elected Delegate to Congress from New 
Mexico and in 1875 he was re-elected. 

While in Congress, Mr. Elkins was married to a 
daughter of Senator Henry G. Davis of West Virginia. 
In 1878, leaving New Mexico, he went to West Vir- 
ginia, where he began the development of coal lands. 
He gave up the active practice of law and devoted his 
10 H. p. c. 



146 HIS'^ORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

time entirely to the management of his business in- 
terests. While he has become a millionaire, himself, 
yet he has done an immeasurable amount of good to 
the people of his adopted state, by causing the invest- 
ment of capital. In 1891 President Harrison appointed 
him Secretary of War, and in 1895 he was elected 
United States Senator, which position he yet holds. 

He lives in a beautiful country home. "Hallie- 
hurst," at Elkins, Randolph county. West Virginia. 
This four story mansion stands on a mountain side of 
unusual beauty. It commands a magnificent view of 
the valley beneath and the forest and mountain peaks 
which frame the scene. In this magnificent home he 
spends his leisure among his books and friends. In 
addition to his many business duties he has not failed 
to drink at learning's fount, to become conversant with 
the best literature, and to make of himself a cultured 
g'entleman in every respect. He is a man of strong and 
sturdy build, is more than six feet in height, has firm 
'eatures, and a large head set firmly on his shoulders. 

Perry county has no reason to be ashamed of Ste- 
fhen Benton Elkins, lawyer, financier, statesman and 
:gentleman. 

The Knight of the Pen. 

On the 19th of May, 1900, there came to the village 
'Df New Lexington, a stranger. It was Stoyan Krstofl: 
Vatralsky, a native of Bulgaria. He had just gradu- 
ated from Harvard University and was preparing to 
•eturn to his home-land. Before going, however, he 
came to visit the grave of the man, who, is held most 
dearly in the afifections of the Bulgarian nation. The 
citizens of New Lexington showed him every courtesy. 
He was taken to view the birthplace of his hero. In 




g^ 



THE KNIGHT OF THE PEN, MacGAHAN. 

(Courtesy of Rosary Magazine.) 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 147 

the Court House he addressed the peo])le in the follow- 
ing- brief and expressive language : 

"I do not come here in an official capacity; yet, in com- 
ing thus to honor the dnst of MacGahan. I am a representa 
tive of the Bulgarian people. We Bulgarians sincerely cher- 
ish in the grateful niche of our memory the name of Janarius 
Aloysius MacGahan as one of the liberators of our country. 

"MacGahan and Eugene Schuyler, another true Ameri- 
can, were Bulgaria's first friends, and at the time she needed 
them most. They not only accomplished a great work for 
themselves, at an opportune time, but furthermore set in 
motion forces and influences that made other men's work 
more effective , thus rendering the achievement of her libera- 
tion possible. Had it not been for these American writers, 
their graphic and realistic exposure of Bulgaria's wounds and 
tears to the world, there would have been no Gladstonian 
thunder, no European consternation; no Russo-Turkish 
war ; no free Bulgaria. It was the American pen that drove 
the Russian sword to action. 

■'Although he died at the early age of thirty-fuur, Mat- 
Gahan's life was far from being either brief or in vain. 
Measured not by years but by achievements, he lived a long 
life. Long enough to set history to the task of writing his 
name among the world's illustrious; among the great jour- 
nalists, philanthropists and liberators of whole races. And I 
venture to predict that in the future his merits shall be more 
universally, more adequately recognized than hitherto. Bul- 
garia and Ohio must and will yet do what becomes them as 
enlightened states. Some of you, as I hope, shall live to see 
a suitable memorial marking his resting place. Yet even now 
MacGahan has a prouder monument than most historic heroes 
— his monument is independent Bulgaria. His name illu- 
mines the pages of Bulgarian history, and his cherished name 
is graven deep in the heart of a rising race : and there it shall 
endure forever." 

After this meeting Mr. Vatralsky visited the burial 
place of the great American journalist and after 
strewing- flowers upon the grave, laid the following 
original ode upon the mound : 



148 IIISTOUV OF PEKRV COL'XTV. 

TO JANARIUS ALOYSIUS MAlCAHAN. 

A pilgrim from the ends of earth I come 

To kneel devoutly at your lowly tomb: 

To own our debt , we never can repay : 
To sigh my gratitude, thank God and pray: 

To bless your name, and bless your name — 
For this I came. 

No marble shaft denotes your resting place ; 

Yet God has raised memorial to your work 
Of grateful hearts that stir a rising race. 

No longer subject to the fiendish Turk. 

Your years, though few, to shield the weak you spent; 

Your life, though brief, accomplished its intent: 
All diplomatic shylocks, bloody Turks, despite, 
'Twas not in vain the Lord gave you a pen to write : 

Your Pen was followed by the Russian sword. 

Driven by force that you yourself called forth ; 
So came the dauntless warriors of the North, 

And bondsmen were to freedom sweet restored. 

Though still unmarked your verdant bed, rest you content: 
Bulgaria is free — behold your monument! 

— Stoyan Krstoff Vatralsky. 

Archibald Forbes, one of the oreatest of war cor- 
respondents, in his recent book, "Memories and Stud- 
ies of War and Peace," says : "My most prominent col- 
league in the Russo-Turkish war was Mr. Janarius 
Aloysius MacGahan, by extraction an Irishman, by 
birth an American. Of all the men who have gained 
reputation as war correspondents, T regard MacGahan 
as the most brilliant. He was the liero of that wonder- 
ful lonely ride through the Great Desert of Central 
Asia to overtake Kauflfman's Russian army on its 
march to Khiva. He it was that stirred Europe to its 
inmost heart by the terrible, and not less truthful than 
terrible, pictures of what have passed into history as 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 149 

the Bulgarian Atrocities. It is, indeed, no exaggera- 
tion to aver that, for better or worse, MacGahan was 
the virtual author of the Russo-Turkish War. His 
pen-pictures of the atrocities so excited the fury of the 
Sclave population of Russia, that their passionate de- 
mand for retribution on the 'unspeakable Turk' vir- 
tuallv compelled the Emperor Alexander II to under- 
take the war. MacGahan's work throughout the long 
campaign was singularly efifective, and his physical ex- 
ertions were extraordinary ; yet he was suffering all 
through from a lameness that would have disabled 
eleven out of twelve men. He had broken a bone in 
his ankle just before the declaration of war, and when 
I first met him the joint was encased in plaster of Paris. 
He insisted on accompanying Gourko's raid across the 
Balkans ; and in the Hankioj Pass his horse slid over 
a precipice and fell on its rider, so that the half-set 
bone was broken again. But the indomitable Mac- 
Gahan refused to be invalided by this mishap. He 
quietly had himself hoisted on to a tumbril, and so 
went through the whole adventurous expedition, being 
involved thus helpless in several actions, and once all 
but falling into the hands of the Turks, He kept the 
front throughout, long after I had gone home disabled 
by fever ; he brilliantly chronicled the fall of Plevna 
and the surrender of Osman Pasha; he crossed the 
mountains with Skobeleff in the dead of that terrible 
winter ; and, finally, at the premature age of thirty- 
four, he died, characteristically, a martyr to duty and 
to friendship. When the Russian armies lay around 
Constantinople waiting for the settlement of the treaty 
of Berlin, typhoid fever and camp pestilences were 
slaying their thousands and tens of thousands. Lieu- 
tenant Greene, an American officer officially attached 



160 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, 

to the Russian army, fell sick, and MacGahan devoted 
himself to the duty of nursing his countryman. His 
devotion cost him his life. As Greene was recov- 
ering MacGahan sickened of malignant typhus ; and a 
few days later they laid him in his far-ofif foreign 
grave, around which stood weeping mourners of a 
dozen nationalities." 

In an issue of the New Lexington "Herald," 
of February, 1897, Judge Martin W. Wolfe penned an 
able article, in which he reviews the brilliant career of 
this famous Perry countian. We give the article in 
full : 

"From many a district school house in our favored land 
have issued youths of humble origin, who by their virtues 
and attainments have adorned society and honored their coun- 
try. J. A. MacGahan, one of the most eminent journalists of 
the world, was a graduate of one of those colleges for the 
people. There are few, indeed, who have not heard of J. A. 
MacGahan, the immortal chevalier of the press, philanthro- 
pist, author, traveler, hero, patriot — yet few know of his 
origin, his early career and the general current of his life, 
so full of romance and stirring interest. Among the hills of 
Perry county (at a place called Pigeon Roost) J. A. MacGa- 
han was born of humble, but respectable Irish American par- 
entage, June 12, 1844. Of his youthful career history bears 
but little record, save that it was spent in the obscure labors 
of a farm. He received a plain, common school education, 
such as the nn-al sciiools of the fifties afforded. In early life 
he evinced great fondness for penmanship and composition. 
In the former he excelled, in the latter he foreshadowed more 
of the fluency and power of the pen, which in after years Im- 
mortalized his name. In short, he is a forcible illustration of 
the repeated fact that the germ of genius is often hidden in 
very common mould , and which springs up into glorious ef- 
florescence, at a time and in a place least expected by the 
common observer. 

"At an early age he left the parental roof to seek his for- 
tune. After a varied experience he went abroad to study the 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 151 

languages. He was not only a good English scholar, but 
spoke readily the languages of Western Europe and was well 
versed in the Slavonic dialects of the East. When in 1870 
the first thunder peal of the Franco-Prussian war rolled over 
Europe we see him at a law school in Brussels. Having had 
some experience as a writer he was attached to the stafif of the 
New York Herald. He at once joined the army of Bourbake, 
witnessed its disastrous defeat, and with much danger and 
suffering, accompanied its retreat into Switzerland, a full 
description of which was given in his letters to the Herald. 
Though he did not achieve renown in that brief campaign, it 
burst the chrysalis of comparative insignificance and formed 
the first cleat to the ladder on which he speedily rose to the 
dizzy heights of fam'e. We next find him in Paris during the 
time of the Commune, writing vigorous and graphic descrip- 
tions of the scenes and incidents of that time. On one occa~ 
sion he was arrested and was preserved from death at the 
hands of the infuriated Communists only by the intervention 
of the minister of his country. During the summer of 1871 
he traveled through Europe and in the autumn of that year 
was in Russia, where information reached him that an assault 
was to be made on Khiva. It was Russia's boldest move to- 
ward India, and he was ordered by the Herald to accompany 
the army of the Czar. 

"In the d'epth of an Arctic winter when a thick mantle of 
snow covered the hardened earth, the frozen lake, the ice- 
bound river under its monotonous pall, our intrepid hero set 
out from Saratof, on the Volga, moving southward to join 
the advancing column at Kazala, a distance of "2,000 miles. 
For six long weeks, when the mercury in the thermometer 
ranged from 30 to 50 degrees below zero, the journey con- 
tinued across the ice-bound Russian steppes, the Ural moun- 
tains, the boundless morasses and arid wastes of the tundri — • 
those broad, level, snowy plains over which the icy winds of 
Northern Siberia, capable of converting mercury into a solid 
body, came rushing down in furious blasts with an uninter- 
rupted sweep of a thousand miles and howhng over the naked 
wilderness and around them as though all the demons of the 
steppe were nj) in arms. And so the days passed until Ka- 
zala is reached, only to find that the Russian column under the 
Grand Duke, Nicholas, had taken up its march and that the 



152 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

eampaign against Khiva was already well advanced. Then he 
prepared for what proved to be one of the most daring rides 
ever made by man. He was now in the heart of the myste- 
rious regions of Asia. It was a journey of six hundred miles 
through silent desolation, with three hundred miles of arid 
■desert on which the gun glares fiercely down from the pitiless 
sky until the sands gleam and burn under the scorching heat 
like glowing cinders. 

"To start almost alone in search of the Russian army, a 
mere speck on those huge steppes; with no plan possible, ex- 
cept to ride as far and as hard as might be ; without knowing 
when one well is left, where the next drop of water will be 
found ; with few provisions and those bad ; with untrust- 
worthy guides and weak horses; enduring a broiling sun by 
■day and a deadly chill by night ; sleeping on a poisonous upas- 
like weed, beneath which lurk scorpions, tarantulas and im- 
tnense lizards or on the sandy floor of this desert ocean where 
eternal silence reigns, save the bark of the jackal or the howl 
of the hyena, as they sound dismally from time to time 
through the loud roaring of the storm ; with the knowledge 
that the country was filled with beaten enemies, always glad 
to fall in with a stranger alone, and now especially fierce and 
envenomed; and the uncertainty of the reception when he 
reached his goal — such a feat may well have made the Rus- 
sians wonder. For twenty-nine days he wandered through the 
Kyzil-Kum in search of Gen. Kaufmann, chased by Cossacks 
sent in hot pursuit for his capture, but through his pertinacity, 
shrewdness and good nature he eluded them all as well as the 
Russian general who detained him at Khalata and by a cir- 
cuitous route joined the- Russian army on the far-famed Oxus 
just as the advance guard was in a heated engagement with the 
Turcoman cavalry. 

"In keeping with his characteristic fearlessness he dashed 
into the raging battle, wrote a description of it and completely 
won the admiration of the Russian soldiery and of that intre- 
pid leader, Gen. Kaufmann himself. Henceforth he accom- 
panied the Russian army and ere long stood before the gate 
of Hazar-x\sp — the grand entrance into the city of Khiva. 
He was one of the first to enter the portals of that city, and 
his description of its capture stands on record as a masterpiece 
of its kind. Upon his retm-n to Russia the Czar conferred on 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 153 

him the Order of St. Stanislaus for his personal bravery. 
The information which he gained during the progress of this 
expedition was afterward pubhshed by MacGahan in book 
form under the title, "'Campaigning On the Oxus and the Fall 
of Khiva," and is the best book on Central Asia and nomadic 
life in our language. 

"Another turn of the wheel found him lecturing before 
the geographical society of New York, then visiting his par- 
ents in Perry county, and in the fall of 1873 in Cuba report- 
ing the Virginius complications. In the spring of 1874 he was 
in London, whence he was ordered by the New York Herald 
to Spain to report the Carlist outbreak of that year. He 
joined the army of Don Carlos and accompanied it for ten 
months, continuing a voluminous and graphic correspondence 
with his journal during the progress of the campaign. While 
in Spain he fell into the hands of tire Republicans, was mis- 
taken for a Carlist and condemned to execution, but his life 
was again saved by the interventions of the American minis- 
ter. Thence he went to England and in 1875 sailed with Cap- 
tain Young in the Pandora to the Arctic regions, making the 
last search undertaken for the lost crew of Sir John Franklin's 
expedition. On his return to England he published an ac- 
count of his experiences with the title, "Under the Northern 
Lights." which brought its author great renown. 

"In the spring of 187G while in London he read a brief 
dispatch in a newspaper of the commission of horrible bar- 
barities by the Bashi-Ba-zouks in Bulgaria. He had lived and 
worked in the East, and more clearly than any living man, 
recognized the hidden significance of this news from the Bal- 
kans. He determined at once to go to that country and wit- 
ness for himself and to the world the truth or falsity of these 
statements. He at once signed articles with the London Daily 
News and in June, 1876, took his departure to join the Turk- 
ish army in the capacity of war correspondent of his journal. 
The horrible evidences of the malignant cruelty which had 
characterized Turkish warfare in Bulgaria roused in the 
American feelings of the most intense indignation, and in 
vivid, soul-stirring words did this heroic man pour the whole 
strength of his powerful mind in the exposure of the most 
ghastly and wholesale massacres of modern times. Strong in 
his maj'esty as protector of the defenseless, MacGahan almost 



154 IIISTORV (IF PERRY COUNTY. 

excelled himself. His revelations of the Bulgarian horrors^ 
struck home to every heart. He caused the pulse of Europe 
and America to quicken, and the hearts to bleed for the cruel- 
ty and barbarously oppressed Bulgarians. Never before had 
such enthusiasm been raised in the annals of newspaper cor- 
respondence. Concerning this extraordinary correspondence Mr. 
Alexander Forbes, long associated with MacGahan, says: 
'MacGahan's work in exposing the Bulgarian atrocities of 
1876 produced very marked results. As mere literary work 
there is nothing that I know of to excel it in vividness, in 
pathos, in burning earnestness, in a glow that thrills from 
heart to heart. His letters fired Mr. Gladstone into a con- 
vulsive paroxyi-sm of revolt against the barbarities they de- 
scribed. They stirred England to its very depths, and men 
traveling in railway carriages were to be noticed with fliusTied 
faces and moistened eyes as they read them.' Lord Beacons- 
field, the premier of England, tried to whistle down the 
wind, the veracity of the exposures MacGahan made. He or- 
dered a fleet to the Dardanelles, and dispatched a British offi- 
cial, Walter Baring, to Bulgaria with intent to break down 
the testimony of MacGahan by cold official investigation. But 
lo ! Baring was an honest man with a heart, and he who 
had been sent out to curse MacGahan, blest him instead alto- 
gether, for he more than confirmed his figures and pictures 
of murder, brutality and atrocity. England was compelled 
to repudiate her old ally ; withdraw her fleet from the Bos- 
phorus without landing a man or firing a shot, and permit 
MacGahan to continue his memorable ride writing sheaves of 
letters and painting in cold type what he saw. To the pen of 
Perry county's gifted son, an All-wise Providence assigned 
the immortal honor of sustaining the dauntless spirits of the 
Bulgarians, and of exciting the profound, active and practi- 
cal sympathy of united Europe. 

"Obscure, alone and unheralded, J. A. i\IacGahan entered 
on his task of exposing Turkish atrocities in Bulgaria. Thou- 
sands of miles from the land of his birth, with the broad 
waters of an ocean between him and his home, this Ohio 
journalist, animated by that spirit of liberty inherent in an 
American, addressed himself to the apparently chimerical un- 
dertaking of striking the chains from off the lives of a race 
whom Turkish masters had almost succeeded in unmanning. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 155 

"Hon'est, fearless and untiring, the pen of MacGahan re- 
cited those bloody chapters of Turkish cruelty, which roused 
the civilized world to indignant protest against the Sultan's 
ferocious spoliation, rapine and inhumanity. 

"The callous Russian paled with anger ; the sympathetic 
European wept the hapless fate of murdered sire and dis- 
honored matron. The Bulgarians heard the voice of God 
in the burning words of MacGahan's descriptive writings, 
and hailed him as the Messiah of their race, sprang to 
arms with the rallying cry of 'MacGahan, Liberator of Bul- 
garia !' 

"In every hamlet he passed through he said: 'The Czar 
will avenge this! Courage, people, he will come.' And on 
leaving the unhappy Bulgarians he said to them : 'Before u 
year is past you will see me here with the army of the Czar.' 

"This assurance was verified by the event. Soon after 
his arrival at the Royal Court of St. Petersburg, the decree 
went forth for the immediate mobilization of the Russian 
hosts at Kishenhoff, where they were reviewed by the Czar 
of all the Russias. Then the order to cross the Pruth was given 
as MacGahan had foretold ; our knight errant rode with the 
advance guard.' The Russians, from the patient Moscovite 
to the Cossack of the Don, marched to battle for a nation's 
freedom, and the strange cry of liberty flew from lip to lip 
of their bearded legions. The eloquent appeals of MacGahan 
became battle cries for the victorious mountaineers of Bul- 
garia as they charged with the irrestible force of Alpine 
avalanches, the reeling fronts of Moslem columns. The most 
valiant of Russians, intrepid Skobeleff, and the most devoted 
leader of Bulgaria's risen hosts were alike inspired to deeds 
of deathless heroism by the noble utterances of MacGahan; 
their sanctified blades flashed Christian freedom as they cleft 
the turbaned heads of brutal Turks, and with holy ardor 
Tartar, Russians and Cossack sought immortality among the 
thickest battle, that a circling world might recite the heroic 
requiems of their American composer, historian and wor- 
shipped chief.' 

"Through the changing fortunes of the war grave and 
gay, MacGahan passed alike the idol of the Russian army 
and the Bulgarian people. The assault at Skobeleiif on the 
Gravitza redoubt was immortalized by his pen. When 



156 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

Plevna fell our hero was in the van during the mad rush 
toward the Bosphorus. The triumphant advance was never 
checked until the spires and minarets of Constantinople were 
in sight, Bulgaria was redeemed, and the power of the Turk 
in Europe was broken, the aggrandizement of Russia was 
complete — and all because J. A. McGahan had lived and 
striven. 

"Scarcely had the rolling thunders of war ceased and 
the sunlight of peace burst upon the disenthralled country 
when his eventful career suddenly came to a close. While 
preparing to attend the international congress at Berlin, he 
was stricken down with a malignant fever, and died at San 
Stefano, a suburb of Constantinople, after a few days' 
illness, June 9, 1878. 

"On his death a bright star went out from the firmament 
of genius but the results of his efforts will endure as long 
as Christianity. It is not too much to say that this dauntless 
Perry county boy. who was laid in his all-too-premature 
grave on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus, still lives in the 
hearts of grateful millions, whose spirits have been stirred 
within them by the touching pathos of his eloquent pen. 

"In Bulgaria's story and legend. MacGahan's memory 
will eventually find its truest record. In the little principality 
Tiis name is enshrined on the hearts of people as Liberator ; 
on the anniversary of his death, prayers for the repose of 
his soul are said in every hamlet throughout Bulgaria ; and 
to the sweetly melancholy strains of the folk-songs the story 
of his labors is to-day sung by the Bulgarian peasant. 

"MacGahan was principally the man for the place and 
times in which his lot was cast. He was a type of a class 
of journalists whose names can be numbered on the fingers 
of one hand — Russel, Sala, Stanly, Forbes, MacGahan. But 
the greatest and noblest of them all was J. A. MacGahan. 
of Khiva, and San Stefano. 

"It will be long before one so gifted shall wear his mantle 
as an equal. A few years ago the government of the United 
States removed his remains to Perry county, the place of 
his nativity and early home, where with appropriate civic 
ceremonies they received honorable sepulcher in a soil con- 
secrated to liberty. In the language of a versatile writer, 
I trust that a suitable monument will be erected over his 



, HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 157 

mortal remains, but no matter of what materials it may be 
composed, it cannot be so endm"ing as the fame of him it 
is built to commemorate. When it begins to crumble and 
decay, and centuries perhaps have passed, pilgrims to this 
spot, descendants maybe of the very people he did so much 
to free, will again and again repeat the story of the modest 
Ohio boy, who was born and brought up amid these hills, 
but who became hero, sage, philanthropist, and whose mis- 
sion and influence embraced the world and encircled the 
globe.' " 

On March .^th, 1884, a resolution passed the Ohio 
House of Representatives providing for a committee 
to consider the question of the reinoval of the remains 
of MacGahan to his native land. On April 12th, of 
the same year, a resolution passed the Senate pro- 
viding for a committee of four, to consist of the Presi- 
dent, or President pro tern, of the Senate, the Speaker, 
or Speaker pro tem of the House, Hon. John O'Neil, 
Senator frotn this district, and Hon. H. C. Greiner, 
Representative from Perry county, to visit the Secre- 
tary of the Navy at Washington and request that a 
war vessel be ordered to Constantinople for the re- 
mains of the distinguished American. 

This committee at once visited Washington. The 
success of its mission can be best portrayed in the 
disinterment with great honors, of the body, May ist, 
and under the direction of Admiral Baldwin, the re- 
mains of this noted Perry county boy were placed on 
board the United States steamer, Ouinnebaugh and 
transported to the steamer Powhatan, on the arrival 
of the former vessel at Lisbon. The latter vessel 
reached the port of New York, August 21st. 

The New York Press Club, through the columns of 
the city papers of August 25th, gave notice that the 



158 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. , 

following program would be carried into effect, in 
honor of this chivalric knight of the pen : 

"Early on Tuesday morning the committee of the club, 
accompanied by a guard of honor consisting of eight gen- 
tlemen who acted as correspondents during the late war, 
will proceed to the Navy Yard and formally receive the re- 
mains from the naval authorities. The body will arrive at 
noon at some point in the city, hereafter to be designated, 
where a procession will be formed. The remains will then 
be conveyed to the Governor's room in the City Hall. Mem- 
bers of the Press Chib. the Ohio committee, relatives and 
admirers of the deceased and journalists generally are in- 
vited to assemble at the Press Club at 11 o'clok a. m. From 
that point they will proceed to the point of landing on the 
New York side and join the committee in the procession 
to the City Hall. There the body, in charge of the guard 
of honor, will lie in state till half-past four p. m. At that 
hour the guard will be relieved by pallbearers representing 
the different city journals, who will escort the remains, 
the Ohio committee and relatives to the Pennsylvania Railroad 
depot at the foot of Cortlandt street." 

The remains of MacGahan arrived at Columbus, 
Wednesday, August 27th accompanied by P. A. Mac- 
Gahan, brother of the deceased, Representative Grei- 
ner, Senator O'Neill and Hon. John Ferguson. They 
were met at Union depot by an immense concourse of 
people. The United States Barracks Band, headed the 
procession, which was composed of the military of the 
city, G. A. R. Posts, police departinent, state and city 
officials. Governor's guards, and members of the press 
acting as pall-bearers. The hearse was drawn by six 
white horses to the Capitol, where the body lay in 
state. Governor Hoadley, on behalf of the State of 
so many great sons, received the body with a most elo- 
quent tribute to the heroism of one who had carried 
the lesson of true Americanism to a foreign land. The 




BIRTHFLACE OF MacGAHAN. 




THE RESTING PLACE OF BULGARIA'S LIBERATOR. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 159 

Governor showed impressively how MacGahan was 
l)y nature an opponent to oppression, that he died 
young, but not untimely, and his remains had been re- 
turned to the home of his fathers, and Ohio would 
preserve and honor them. 

The remains in charge of the committee reached 
Zanesville, Thursday, August 28th, where they were 
received by a committee of the Press, G. A. R. Post, 
and a large concourse of citizens. The remains were 
deposited on the day following in Mt. Calvary Ceme- 
tery vault, until the time of final sepulture at New 
Lexington, Thursday, September ii. 

Of the exercises attending the final interment, we 
quote from the New Lexington "Tribune" : 

"All day Wednesday, Wednesday night and Thursday 
till 9 o'clock the casket lay on an elevated platform in the 
center of the court room, faithfully guarded by members 
of the New Lexington Guards, detailed for the purpose. 
One guard, uniformed and armed, \vas constantly stationed 
at the head, and another at the foot of the casket. Another 
was stationed just outside of the court room door, at the 
head of the stairs, another at the outside door of the Court 
House, and still another at the gate leading into the yard. 

"The outer casket, a very beautiful one, was bought 
by the journalists of New York. The body came from Con- 
stantinople in a hermetically sealed leaden casket, in which 
it was placed at the time of the disinterment, and this of 
course was inclosed in the new one. Three large wreaths 
rested upon the casket, as it lay in the Court House here. 
Inscriptions upon ribbons attached showed that one was the 
gift of journalists of New York and another of the Press 
Club of the same city. The remaining large wreath was 
still unfaded and fresh, having been placed upon the casket 
after its arrival here by the widow and other friends of 
the deceased. On the casket was a handsome plate, bear- 
ing the inscription: 



160 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 









J. A. MacGahan, 

Born June 12, 1844, 

Died June 9, 1878. 



"At the head of the casket was placed a large photo- 
graph of the dead journalist as he appeared in life, in citi- 
zen's dress, and at the foot was a full-length likeness of him 
in the costume of a war correspondent, as he roughed it 
with the boys or slept or dined in the tents of generals. 
All day Wednesday and until late Wednesday night, and a 
good part of Thursday forenoon callers, embracing gentle- 
men, ladies, youths and children, streamed in and walked 
around the casket, passing from the right to the left, all 
gazing intently at the picture of the dead journalist, and 
many stopping to read the plate and the inscriptions attached 
to two of the large wreaths which rested upon the casket. 

"A goodly number of business houses and private resi- 
dences had been draped in black with white intermingled 
Wednesday and many flags put out, but early Thursday morn- 
ing this became almost universal all along Main street, and 
also received more or less attention in other parts of the 
town. A beautiful arch was erected over Main street be- 
tween the Court House and Park, which was wrapped with 
alternate or intermingled flags and black and white, fes- 
tooned with wreaths of evergreen. Near the arch, and span- 
ning the same street, was stretched a large streamer, on 
which was printed in bold letters 'Bulgaria's Libera- 
tor.' Other large streamers were placed across Main 
street, erected by the G. A. R. Post, and proclaiming a 
welcome to their brethren from all parts who came to par- 
ticipate in the ceremonies attending the obsequies. The Court 
House and yard, the postofficc. St. Rose Church and New 
Lexington Cemetery were all appropriately decorated. 
Arches were raised over the cemetery gates, and over the 
head of the open grave on the MacGahan lot was placed a 
large banner, on which were painted the words, 'Rest in 
Thy Native Land.' Many of the decorations of business 
houses and private residences were very fine, and produced 
a pleasant efifect. These decorations, in the aggregate, were 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 161 

much admired by visitors and received numerous compli- 
ments. 

"At about 9:30 the casket was removed from the Court 
House to St. Rose Church, where the usual religious services 
were conducted by Bishop Watterson, of Columbus, assisted 
by a number of priests from St. Josephs and elsewhere. The 
Bishop preached an able and interesting sermon upon 'The 
Power and the Responsibility of the Newspaper Press.' 

"Not one in twenty of the people in town could get 
into the church, and the heat was so oppressive that many 
who did get in were compelled to retire. About 11 :30 the 
casket was brought from the church and the procession be- 
gan to form, under the direction of Hon. H. C. Greiner, 
assisted by several aides. The guard of honor consisted of 
a detachment of the New Lexington Guards. The procession 
moved along Main to Brown street, then down Brown to 
Cemetery avenue, then out along this avenue to the cemetery, 
then along the streets of the same to the southern part of the 
grounds, where the MacGahan lot had been selected by th^ 
committee for that purpose. Arrived at the open grave, the 
platoon of Grand Army men, who had preceded the pro- 
cession, formed themselves around the grave and speakers' 
stand in a circle large enough to accommodate the clergy, 
pallbearers, relatives, press, members of the legislature, etc., 
when the remainder of the procession opened ranks and let 
the hearse, clergy, relatives, etc., pass through to the grave. 
After the usual religious ceremonies, the people gathered 
around the stand that had been erected near by to be used 
for the public exercises. Hon. H. C. Greiner acted as chair- 
man. The exercises consisted of 'Eulogy on Life and Char- 
acter of J. A. MacGahan,' by E. S. Colborn; poem, written 
for the occasion by W. A. Taylor ; an address on the 'Office 
of the Newspaper Correspondent," by Judge Silas H. Wright. 

"The number of persons present is variously estimated. 
Eight to ten thousand would in our opinion not be a wild 
estimate. It is safe to say that half as many people were 
never in town at any one time before. This county alone 
brought its thousands and the trains from east and west, 
north and south came in loaded down, the one from Zanes- 
ville and the east being unprecedented. Notwithstanding the 

11 H. P. C. 



162 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

overwhelming crowds of people, the best of order was pre- 
served, and the proceedings and the events of the day were 
creditable alike to all, residents and strangers. 

"The great event has come and gone, and the mortal 
remains of the famous Ohio boy, who perished so honorably 
and so bravely in a far distant country, now reposes in his 
native land, to be disturbed not again till time shall be no 
more. 

"The Nation, the State and the people of this county 
have heartily united in paying a just tribute to a brilliant 
genius, to a patient hard worker, to a brave, noble man, 
who lived and toiled for others more than himself; who 
freed a nation of people, who opened the way for the story 
of the Cross, and who, with young wife and child awaiting 
his return to Russia, stopped amid malaria and malignant 
disease to lay down his life for a friend. When qualities like 
these cease to attract the admiration and love of man or 
woman, the world will scarce be worth living in, and finis 
may be appropriately written upon its outer walls." 

The grave of MacGahan has not remained un- 
marked. To the teachers of Perry county belongs 
the honor of placing at his grave, a mark that is as 
enduring as the fame of the one that rests beneath. 
It was fitting that the teachers of his native county, 
should do this for him, who himself was a product of 
her public schools. 

At the Teachers' Institute, in August 1900, the 
present writer in a brief address, reviewed the life of 
this renowned citizen, and asked that the teachers take 
the initiative, in placing a fitting memento at his sepul- 
chre. He called attention to the many granite bowl- 
ders scattered throughout the northern part of the 
county and suggested that they would in many ways be 
appropriate for a memorial. The teachers at once took 
up with the idea and in a. few minutes a collection was 
taken, strfficiently large, to cover the expenses of secur- 
ing the bowlder. Mr. George W DeLong of Corning 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 163 

and the writer went to Thorn township and selected a 
suitable specimen, which with the word MacGahan 
upon it, is the only marker for this chivalrous knight of 
the pen. 

THE ARTICLE THAT CAUSED THE RUSSO-TURKO WAR. 

This article was penned to the London Daily News 
by Mr. MacGahan. It is dated August 2, 1876, from 
Tartar Bezarjik. 

Since my letter of yesterday I have supped full of hor- 
rors. Nothing has as yet been said of the Turks that I do 
not now believe; nothing could be said of them that I should 
not think probable and likely. There is, it seems, a point in 
atrocity beyond which discrimination is impossible, when 
mere comparison, calculation, measurement are out of the 
question, and this point the Turks have already passed. You 
can follow them no further. The way is blocked up by 
mountains of hideous facts that repel scrutiny and investiga- 
tion, over and beyond which you can not see and do not 
care to go. You feel that it is superfluous to continue meas- 
uring these mountains and deciding whether they be a few 
feet higher or lower, and you do not care to go seeking for 
mole hills among them. You feel that it is time to turn back; 
that you have seen enough. 

But let me tell you what we saw at Batak. We had 
some difficulty in getting away from Pestara. The authori- 
ties were offended because Mr. Schuyler refused to take 
any Turkish official with him, and^they ordered the inhabit- 
ants to tell us that there were no horses, for we had to 
leave our carriages and take to the saddle. But the people 
were so anxious that we should go that they furnished horses 
in spite of the prohibition, only bringing them at first with- 
out saddles, by way of showing how reluctantly they did it. 
We asked them if they could not bring us saddles, also, and 
this they did with much alacrity and some chuckling at the 
way in which the Mudir's orders were walked over. Finally 
we mounted and got off. 

As we approached Batak out attention was drawn to 
some dogs on a slope overlooking the town. We turned 



16-1: HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

aside from the road, and passing over the debris of two 
or three walls and through several gardens, urged our horses 
up the ascent toward the dogs. They barked at us in an 
angry manner, and then ran off into the adjoining fields. I 
observed nothing peculiar as we mounted until my horse 
stumbled, when looking down I perceived he had stepped on 
a human skull partly hid among the grass. It was quite 
hard and dry, and might, to all appearances, have been there 
two or three years, so well had the dogs done their work. 
A few steps further there was another and part of a skel- 
eton, likewise, white and dry. As we ascended, bones, 
skulls, and skeletons became more frequent, but here they 
had not been picked so clean, for there were fragments of 
halt dry, half putrid flesh attached to them. At last we 
came to a little plateau or shelf on the hillside, where the 
ground was nearly level, with the exception of a little inden- 
tation, where the head of a hollow broke through. We rode 
toward this with the intention of crossing it, but all suddenly 
drew reign with an exclamation of horror, for right before 
us, almost beneath our horses' feet, was a sight that made 
us shudder. It was a heap of skulls, intermingled with bones 
from all parts of the human body, skeletons nearly entire 
and rotting, clothing, human hair and putrid flesh lying 
there in one foul heap, around which the grass was growing 
luxuriantly. It emitted a sickening odor, like that of a dead 
horse, and it was here that the dogs h^d been seeking a 
hasty repast when our untimely approach interrupted them. 

In the midst of this heap, I could distinguish the slight 
skeleton form, still inclosed in a chemise, the skull wrap- 
ped about with a colored handkerchief, and the bony ankles 
encased in the embroidered footless stockings worn by Bul- 
garian girls. We looked about us. The ground was strewed 
with bones in every direction, where the dogs had carried 
them oflf to gnaw them at their leisure. At the distance 
of a hundred yards beneath us lay the town. As seen from 
our standpoint, it reminded one somewhat of the ruins of 
Herculaneum and Pompeii. 

We looked again at the heap of skulls and skeletons be- 
fore us, and we observed that they were all small and that 
the articles of clothing intermingled with them and lying 
about were all women's apparel. These, then, were all women 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 165 

and girls. From my saddle I counted about a hundred skulls, 
not including those that were hidden beneath the others in 
the ghastly heap nor those that were scattered far and wide 
through the fields. The skulls were nearly all separated from 
the rest of the bones — the skeletons were nearly all headless. 
These women had all been beheaded. We descended into 
the town. Within the shattered walls of the first house we 
came to was a woman sitting upon a heap of rubbish rock- 
ing herself to and fro, wailing a kind of monotonous chant, 
half sung, half sobbed, that was not without a wild discordant 
melody. In her lap she held a babe, and another child sat 
beside her patiently and silently, and looked at us as we 
passed with wondering eyes. She paid no attention to us, 
but we bent our ear to hear what she was saying, and our 
interpreter said it was as follows : "My home, my home, 
my poor home, my sweet home; my husband, my husband, 
my dear husband, my poor husband; my home, my sweet 
home," and so on, repeating the same words over again a thou- 
sand times. In the next house were two engaged in a similar 
way; one old, the other young, repeating words nearly iden- 
tical : — "I had a home, now I have none; I had a husband, 
now I am a widow; I had a son, and now I have none; I 
had five children, and now I have one." while rocking them- 
selves to and fro, beating their heads and wringing their 
hands. These were women who had escaped from the mas- 
sacre, and had only just returned for the first time, having 
taken advantage of our visit to do so. As we advanced there 
were more and more, some sitting on the heaps of stones 
that covered the floors, others walking up and down, wring- 
ing their hands, weeping and wailing. 

The Turkish authorities did not even pretend that there 
was any Turk killed here, or that the inhabitants offered 
any resistence whatever when Achmet-Agha, who com- 
manded the massacre, came with the Basha-Bazouks and de- 
manded the surrender of their arms. They at first refused, 
but offered to deliver them to the regular troops or to the 
Kaimakan at Tartar Bazardjik. This, however, Aschmet- 
Agha refused to allow, and insisted on their arms being de- 
livered to him and his Bashi-Bazouks. After considerable 
hesitation and parleying this was done. It must not be sup- 
posed that these were arms that the inhabitants had specially 



166 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

prepared for an insurrection. They were simply the arms 
that everybody, Christians and Turks alike, carried and wore 
openly as is the custom here. What followed the delivery 
of arms will best be understood by the continuation of the 
recital of what we saw yesterday. At the point where we 
descended into the principal street of the place the people who 
had gathered around us pointed to a heap of ashes by the 
roadside, among which could be distinguished a great num- 
ber of calcined bones. Here a heap of dead bodies had been 
burned, and it would seem that the Turks had been making 
some futile and misdirected attempts at cremation. 

A little further on we came to an object that filled us 
with pity and horror. It was the skeleton of a young girl 
not more than fifteen lying by the roadside, and partly cov- 
ered with the debris of a fallen wall. It was still clothed in 
a chemise: the ankles were enclosed in footless stockings, 
but the little feet, from which the shoes had been taken, 
were naked, and owing to the fact that the flesh had dried 
instead of decomposing were nearly perfect. There was a 
large gash in the skull, to which a mass of rich brown hair, 
nearly a yard long, still clung, trailing in the dust. It is to 
be remarked that all, the skeletons found here were dressed 
in a chemise only, and this poor child had evidently been 
stripped to her chemise, partly in the search for money and 
jewels, partly •out of mere brutality, and afterwards killed. 
* * * * At the next house a man stopped us to show 
where a blind little brother had been burned alive, and the 
spot where he had found his calcined bones, and the rough, 
hard-vizaged man sat down and sobbed like a child. The 
number of children killed in these massacres is something 
enormous. They were often spitted on bayonets, and we 
have several stories from eye-witnesses who saw the little 
babes carried about the streets, both here and at Olluk-Kni, 
on the points of bayonets. The reason is simple. When a 
Mohammedan has killed a certain number of infidels he is 
sure of Paradise, no matter what his sins may be. There 
was not a house beneath the ruins which did not contain 
human remains, and the street beside was strewn with them. 
Before many of the doorways women were walking up and 
down wailing their funeral chant. One of them caught me 
by the arm and led me inside of the walls, and there in a 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 167 

corner, half covered with stones and mortar, were the re- 
mains of another young girl, with her long hair flowing 
wildly among the stones and dust. And the mother fairly 
shrieked with agony and beat her head madly against the 
wall. I could only turn round and walk out sick at heart, 
leaving her alone with her skeleton. 

And now we began to approach the church and the school- 
house. The ground is covered here with skeletons, to which 
are clinging articles of clothing and bits of putrid flesh. The 
air was heavy, with a faint, sickening odor, that grows 
stronger as we advance. It is beginning to be horrible. 
The school-house, to judge by the walls that are part stand- 
ing, was a fine large building capable of accommodating 200 
or 300 children. Beneath the stones and rubbish that cover 
the floor to the height of several feet are the bones and 
ashes of '200 women and children burned alive between these 
four walls. Just beside the school-house is a broad, shal- 
low pit. Here were buried 200 bodies two weeks after the 
massacre. But the dogs uncovered them in part. The water 
flowed in, and now it lies there a horrid cesspool, with 
human remains floating about or lying half exposed in the 
mud. Near by on the banks of the little stream that runs 
through the village is a saw mill. The wheel pit beneath is 
full of dead bodies floating in the water. The banks of this 
stream were at one time literally covered with the corpses 
of men and women, young girls and children, that lay there 
festering in the sun and eaten by dogs. But the pitiful 
sky rained down a torrent upon them and the little stream 
swelled and rose up and carried the bodies away and strewed 
them far down its grassy banks, through its narrow gorges 
and dark defiles, beneath the thick underbrush and shady 
woods, as far as Pesterea and even Tartar Bazardjik, forty 
miles distant. We entered the church yard, but here the 
odor became so bad that it was almost impossible to pro- 
ceed. We take a handful of tobacco and hold it against our 
noses while we continue our investigations. The church was 
not a very large one, and it was surrounded by a low stone 
wall, enclosing a small churchyard about fifty yards wide 
by seventy-five long. At first we perceive nothing in partic- 
ular, and the stench is so great that we scarcely care to look 
about us; but we see that the place is heaped up with stones 



168 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, 

and rubbish to the height of five or six feet above the level 
of the street, and upon inspection we discover that what 
appeared to be a mass of stones and rubbish is in reality an 
immense heap of human bodies covered over with a thin 
layer of stones. The whole of the little churchyard is heaped 
up with them to the depth of three or four feet, and it is 
from here that the fearful odor comes. Some weeks after 
the massacre orders were sent to bury the dead. But the 
stench at that time had become so heavy that it was im- 
possible to execute the order or even to remain in the neigh- 
borhood of the village. We are told that 3,000 people were 
lying in this little churchyard alone, and we could well be- 
lieve it. It was a fearful sight — a sight to haunt one through 
life. There were little curly heads there in that festering 
mass, crushed down by heavy stones, little feet not as long 
as your finger, on which the flesh was dried hard by the 
ardent heat before it had time to decompose; little baby 
hands, stretched out as if for help; babes that had died 
wondering at the bright gleam of the sabers and the red eyes 
of the fierce-eyed men who wielded them; children who had 
died weeping and sobbing, and begging for mercy; mothers 
who had died trying to shield their little ones with their 
own weak bodies, all lying there together, festering in one 
horrid mass. They are silent enough now. There are no 
tears nor cries, no weeping, no shrieks of terror, nor prayers 
for mercy. 

The harvests are rotting in the fields and the reapers 
are rotting here in the churchyard. We looked into the 
church, which had been blackened by the burning of the 
woodwork, but not destroyed nor even much injured. It was 
a low building with a low roof, supported by heavy, irreg- 
ular arches that, as we looked in, seemed scarcely high 
enough for a tall man to stand under. What we saw there 
was too frightful for more than a hasty glance. An im- 
mense number of bodies had been partly burned there and 
the charred and blackened remains that seemed to fill up 
half way to the low, dark arches and make them lower and 
darker still were lying in a state of putrefaction too fright- 
ful to look upon. I had never imagined anything so horri- 
ble. We all turned away sick and faint and staggered out 
of the fearful pest house, glad to get into the street again. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 169 

We walked about the place and saw the same things re- 
peated over and over again a hundred times. Skeletons of 
men with the clothing and flesh still hanging and rotting 
together; skulls of women, with their hair dragging in the 
dust; bones of children and infants everywhere. Hgre they 
show us a house where twenty people were buried alive; 
there another where a dozen girls had taken refuge and been 
slaughtered to the last one as their bones amply testified. 
Everywhere horrors upon horrors. Of the 8,000 to 9,000 
people who made up the population of the place only 1,200 
to 1,500 are left, and they have neither tools to dig graves 
with, nor strength to use spades if they had them. 

As to the present condition of the people it is simply 
fearful to think of. The Turkish authorities have built a 
few wooden sheds in the outskirts of the village in which 
they sleep, but they have nothing to live upon but what they 
can beg or borrow from their neighbors. And in addition to 
this the Turkish officials with that cool cynicism and utter 
disregard for European demands for which they are so dis- 
tinguished, have ordered those people to pay their regular 
taxes and war contributions just as though nothing had 
happened. Ask the Porte about this at Constantinople, and 
it will be denied with the most plausible protestations and 
the most reassuring promises that everything will be done to 
help the sufferers. But everywhere the people of the vil- 
lages come with the same story — that unless they pay their 
taxes and war contributions they are threatened with expul- 
sion from the nooks and corners of the crumbling walls, 
where they have found a temporary shelter. It is simply 
impossible for them to pay, and what will be the result of 
these demands it is not easy to say. But the government 
needs money badly and must have it. Each village must 
make up its ordinary quota of taxes and the living must pay 
for the dead. 

We asked about the skulls and bones we had seen upon 
the hill upon our first arrival in the village, where the dogs had 
barked at us. These, we were told, were the bodies of 200 
young girls who had first been captured and particularly re- 
served for a worse fate. They had been kept till the last; 
they had been in the hands of their captors for several days — 
for the burning and pillaging had not all been accomplished 



170 HISTORY OF PERKY COUNTY. 

in a single day — and during this time they had sufifered all 
that poor, weak, trembling girls could suffer at the hands of 
the brutal savages. Then, when the town had been pillaged and 
burned, when all their friends had been slaughtered, these 
poor young things, whose very wrongs should have insured 
them safety, whose very outrages should have insured them 
protection, were taken in the broad light of day, beneath the 
smiling canopy of heaven, cooly beheaded, then thrown in 
a heap there and left to rot. 

MacGahan. 

This is the Poem read by Col. W. A. Taylor, a 

Perry county boy, on the occasion of the funeral of 

MacGahan. 

I. 

Not stately verse, nor trumpets blowing fame, 

Not praise from lips of matchless eloquence; 

Not monumental piles nor epitaphs; 

Funeral pomp, nor all combined, can make 

Man other than he fashions for himself 

Out of warp and woof of Circumstance. 

A man lies here whose hand ennobled Time, 

And wrote a deathless page of history : 

Up from these hills our hero made his way — 

A western ^ar that shown across the East, 

Moved forward by the hand of Destiny. 

Here, knee-deep in the purple clover bloom. 

He drank life's spring time bubbling at the fount — 

A school-girl's tenderness about his eyes — 

Less'ning a loving mother's daily toil. 

Content, yet all his soul unsatisfied. 

Out of such gentle stuff are heroes made — 

And he who wept a fallen butter-fly. 

Rode like a storm-cloud down the long plateaus, 

Defying Girghis, Turk and Turkoman — 

Across the Oxus, knocking at the gates 

Of far, mysterious Khivi, in a realm 

That filled his boyish dreams of Wonderland; 

Kings, kahns and caliphs passed him in review — 

The proud voluptuary and the cringing slave — 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 171 

Seraglios, palaces and minarets 

Revealed their secrets, till the world amazed 

Rose and reached forth a succoring hand to man; 

Bulgaria in the wine press of the Turk, 

Gave blood and tears and groaned upon the rack, 

Until his mighty thunders 'gainst the wrong 

Rocked Europe to its base, unloosed the slave 

And set the sun of Freedom o'er the hills. 

Where serfs had groped through ages of eclipse. 

And then, where Stamboul, standing by the sea 

Looks through the spicy gateways of the East — 

Youth on his brow and summer on his lips. 

Crowned more than conqueror and more than king — 

Dreaming of these green hills, a mother's love, 

Of wife and babe and kindred's loving touch, 

With all the world before him, his great soul 

Ascended to the infinite, and mankind 

Are better for this hero having lived. 

II. 

Here where the green hills turn to gray 

Under the warm Autumnal sun, 

We lay him, with his honors won. 
Where first his eyes looked on the day, 

His work well done. 

There where proud Stamboul by the sea 
Looks through the Orient's purple gate. 
He met the Apostle's common fate. 

But ere he died, Bulgaria free 
Arose in state. 

His was God's sword in Gideon's field. 

That reaped like sheaves the souls of men. 

Justice, not blood, imbued his pen, 
And his strong truth became the shield 

And buckler then. ; 

And his ennobling part to dare — 

The Apostle's glory in the thralls — 

Whose triumph when the body falls. 
Like a broad sun of radiance rare 

Lights up the walls. 5 



172 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

With him who holds the truth in awe — 
Nor recks what bitter storms are poured • 
"The pen is mightier than the sword," 

And his strong armor without flaw 
Keeps perfect guard. 

O, green hills sloping east and west, 
To purple eve and crimson day. 
He comes along the martyr's way. 

His work with Freedom's paens blessed — 
He comes to-day. 

Here o'er the dust of him whose name 
Grew from these green hills, far away, 
Into the Orient's warmer day, 

Bright'ning the gilded scroll of fame. 
Fair truth can say. 

His hand bore not a hireling blade — 
His soul was trained to noble deeds, 
From out the rain he plucked the weeds, 

And in the battle undismayed. 
Struck down false creeds. 

Fair youth, among the quiet lanes, 
Came there a vision of the years 
Before you, telling of the tears. 

The struggles, triumphs and the pains, 
The hopes and fears. 

And watching as you went afield, 
Barefoot, to drive the lowing herd, 
Saw you the dim, far Orient stirred 

Its dark crimes and its secrets yield 
At thy stern word? 

Did Hesperus at eve proclaim 
That you at Islam's mystic gate 
Should change the drifting tide of fate 

And blow upon the trump of Fame 
With breath elate? 




JEREMIAH RUSK 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 173 

That he who drove his father's kine 
Beneath the northern moon should be 
The Liberator, and set free 

The bondsman with touch divine 
Of Liberty? 

Not where Stamboul's minarets 

Look down upon Marmora's sea, 

But in the glad soil of the free, 
We lay him down without regrets, 

While Time shall be. 

There sleep, O brother of the pen, 

Till the archangel's trump shall say 

Night ends in the eternal day, 
And Truth shall judge who have been men, 

Who went astray. 

Jeremiah M. Rusk. 

"The hills are dearest, where our childhood's feet 
Have climbed the earliest. 
And the streams most sweet 
Ever are those at which our young lips drank. 
Stooped to its waters o'er the mossy bank." 

The above sentiment was evidently in the mind 
of Secretary of Ag-riculture, Jeremiah M. Rusk, when 
he stood before the door of the Post Office at Porter- 
ville and said, " Do you know that this whole country 
continually spreads out before me day and night, like 
a vast panoroma ? This is the place of my childhood's 
dreams. Here my parents, brothers and sisters lie 
buried. This country' I love." 

The Rusk farm of five hundred acres lay mostly 
in Perr}' county. But the house in which Jeremiah 
Rusk was born stands a few rods across the line 
in Morgan. We do not hesitate under the circum- 
stances in calling " Uncle Jerry" as he was familiarly 
known, a Perrv county boy. 



174 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

Daniel Rusk was one of the pioners of Perry coun- 
ty. In 1 813 he came to Clayton township and set- 
tled on Buckeye creek. His wife was Jane Falkner. 
Mrs. Rusk's mother was the first person to be buried 
in Unity Presbyterian cemetery, in Clayton township. 
The Rusk family lived on Buckeye till 1826 when they 
moved to Bearfield township and purchased the large 
farm on which Porterville now stands. This village 
was orioinally known as Ruskville. 

It was on this farm that the subject of our sketch 
was born, on the 17th of July, 1830. The ]vIother of 
Jeremiah McLain Rusk was a woman of exalted char- 
acter and noble ideals. Even in a pioneer home she 
did not forget to cultivate the culture side of life. The 
home training had therefore much to do with the suc- 
cess of the future governor of Wisconsin. 

Young Rusk attended a subscription school at 
first, for the public school was then unknown. After 
the establishment of the latter, he became a pupil in 
it and received the nucleus of such an education as 
could then be obtained. 

He was sixteen years old when his father died. 
Being the youngest of ten children, and the older 
members of the family having married, the care of 
the farm largely devolved upon him. Here he early 
evinced that trait that has been characteristic of him 
throughout his life — to push work instead of work 
pushing him. While on the farm he became an expert 
horseman. There are men yet living in Bearfield town- 
ship, who remember how adept he was, and how skill- 
fully he could manage a horse. Many were the races 
that Jerry ran with the neighbor boys along the Por- 
terville ridsfe. 




WHERE "UNCLE JERRY" RUSK WAS BORN. 




A GRUBBER. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 175 

From the farm he went to Zanesville, to become a 
driver on the stage-coach, between that point and 
Newark. The coach was of the Concord pattern and 
four horses were required to draw it. The driver sat 
on the "near" wheel horse and manipulated the team 
with a " single " line. 

When the present Cincinnati and Muskingum Val- 
ley Railroad was built, we find Jerry Rusk occupying 
the position of '"boss." He assisted on the tunnel east 
of New Lexington. 

In partnership with William Pettet, he purchased 
what is known as a "grubber" or "caver." This ma- 
chine was the first step in the evolution of the thresh- 
ing machine. A picture of one is here shown. 

In 1849 Mr. Rusk was married to Mary Martin, 
the daughter of a well-to-do citizen near McLuney. 
It would be a great pleasure to give in detail the 
subsequent history of this honored citizen. Going 
to Wisconsin, he became quite wealthy. He served 
the people in Congress, was elected Governor, and then 
invited to a place in President Harrison's Cabinet. 
The life of Jeremiah Rusk should be an incentive to 
every boy. The push, the energy and the honesty of 
the man made him successful in all of his under- 
takings. 

William Alexander Taylor. 

It was especially fitting that on the day of the burial 
of Janarius A. MacGahan, at New Lexington, the 
poem for the occasion should have been written by 
another Perry county boy. The man who was thus 
honored, and who did honor to the occasion was Wil- 
liam A. Taylor, the widely known journalist and 
author, now a resident of Columbus. 



176 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

He was born in Harrison township, April 25, 1837. 
He attended the pubHc schools, but most largely edu- 
cated himself, through the kindness of an old friend, 
Dr. Milliken, of Roseville, who placed his large and 
splendid general library at his disposal. 

Among his teachers was Philander H. Binckley, 
of Somerset, who directed his early readings and en- 
couraged his literary tastes. While working on the 
farm, he began contributing to the county papers, 
especially the Somerset Review, edited by the late 
John H. Shearer, and the Democratic Union, edited 
by the late James Sheward, afterward a distinguished 
jurist of New York. 

When 19 years of age, he began teaching, at the 
same time reading law with Muzzy & Butler, of New 
Lexington, and was admitted to the practice at the 
December term of the Supreme Court in 1858, being 
examined by Morrison R. Waite, afterward Chief Jus- 
tice and Noah H. Swayne, afterward Associate Justice 
of the Supreme Court of the United States, and 
Samuel Galloway, a distinguished lawyer and Con- 
gressman, who rated him 100 in the examination. 

In 1858 he became associated with John R. Meloy 
and Perry J. Ankeney in the publication of the Perry 
County Democrat, the predecessor of the present Her- 
ald, of New Lexington. He ceased the practice of law 
in 1863, and devoted his entire attention to journal- 
istic and literary pursuits. He went on the Cincinnati 
Enquirer, first as correspondent and later as a mem- 
ber of its editorial stafif, and continued in active jour- 
nalism until 1900, during twenty-three years of which 
period he was connected with the Enquirer. 

In 1869 he took the position of editorial writer on 
the Pittsbure Post, afterward going to the New York 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 177 

Sun, the New York World, Pittsburg Telegraph, 
Columbus Democrat, Columbus Courier, Cincinnati 
News Journal, and in 1884 again went on the staff 
of the Enquirer, where he remained until 1900. Dur- 
ing all these years he contributed largely to the maga- 
zines and literary publications. 

He is the author of a large number of books many 
of which are standard works of reference, among them 
being : " Eighteen Presidents and Contemporaneous 
Rulers, ;" "Ohio Hundred Year Book ; "Primary Tariff 
Lessons ;" "Ohio Statesmen ;" "The Peril of the Re- 
public ;" "Ohio Statesmen and Annals of Progress ;" 
"Roses and Rue" (poems) ; "Intermere" (a narrative 
of speculative philosophy) ; "Ohio in Congress from 
1803 to 1903," and "Twilight? or Dawn?" (poems. 
He is also the principal author of "The Book of Ohio," 
an exhaustive illustrated history of Ohio of 1000 folio 
pages and 2000 illustrations, issued by C. S. Van 
Tassel of Bowling Green and Toledo. 

He is a member of the Benjamin Franklin Chapter 
of the Sons of the American Revolution and of the 
State Society of the S. A. R., having held the prom- 
inent offices in both ; of the Ohio Historical and Arch- 
aeological Society ; of the Old Northwest Genealogical 
Society and many other social and literary associations. 
He served as a private soldier in the Army of the 
Potomac in the Civil War. He was clerk of the sen- 
ate of the 69th General Asembly ; was the Democratic 
candidate for Secretary of State in 1892, and for 
Lieutenant Governor in 1893. 

His parents were Thomas Taylor, of London 
county, and Mary Owens Tajvlor, of Fauquier County, 
Virginia, the latter being the niece of Gen. Simon 
12 H. p. c. 



178 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

Kenton. His paternal grandfather, also Thomas Tay- 
lor, and his maternal grandfather, Joshua Owens, 
were soldiers of the Revolution and hoth were present 
at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, at Yorktown. 
His father served as a soldier in the war of 1812. 

His parents, and many others of their families 
migrated to Ohio in 18 16. The elder and the younger 
Thomas Taylor took up lands in Harrison township, 
Perry county, where they resided the rest of their 
lives. Others of the immigrants settled in Belmont 
and Muskingum counties. 

William A. Taylor was married to Jane Allen 
Tarrier, the eldest daughter of Capt. George W. Tar- 
rier, of Zanesville, Ohio, Nov. 10, 1870. To them 
was born a son, Aubrey Clarence Taylor, in Alle- 
gheny City, Pa., Jan 28, 1875, and who died in Zanes- 
ville Nov. 26, 1898, while filling an editorial position 
on the evening Press of that city. 

James M. Comley. 

Perry county has been especially successful in pro- 
ducing literary men. It is now our pleasure to pre- 
sent to our readers, the biography of another Perry 
countian, who has made for himself a name in the 
world of journalism. 

The grandfather of James Comley laid out the 
town of New Lexington. He was of Quaker descent. 
One of his ancestors, Henry Comley came to Penn- 
svlvania with William Penn in 1682. 

The subject of our sketch was born in New Lex- 
ington, March 6. 1832. While yet a mere boy he de- 
termined to go out into the world and 'hoe his own 
row." Walking to Columbus, he entered the office of 
the 'Ohio State Journal" and learned the printers 




/ 



COL. W. A. TAYLOR. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 179 

trade. He received his education mostly from the 
pubhc schools of that city. He began the study of law, 
and was admitted to practice in 1859. The War 
breaking out in '61, he entered the service of his 
country as a private. He rose successfully in the 
ranks. First as Lieutenant of his company, then Lieu- 
tenant Colonel of the Forty-third Ohio Volunteers and 
then Major of the Twenty-third Ohio, While Major 
he marched his detachment from Raleigh C. H., West 
Virginia, to the mouth of Stone River, twenty-eight 
miles, through a snow storm, driving a regiment of 
the enemy's infantry and a force of cavalry with con- 
siderable loss across the river, capturing their tents, 
camps and forage. The detachment received the 
thanks of General Rosecrans, for its bravery and effici- 
ency. He was in the Battle of South Mountain where 
Lieutenant Colonel Hayes had his arm broken. Three 
other Lientenants were badly wounded and it devolved 
upon Major Comley to command the regiment the re- 
mainder of the day. He led three splendid bayonet 
charges, repulsing the Confederates successfully each 
time. His regiment lost two hundred men. The colors 
were riddled and the blue field almost completely car- 
ried away by shot and shell. 

In the great battle of Antietam, the colors of the 
regiment were shot down, and after a moment's de- 
lay, they were planted- by Major Comley on a new 
line at right angles with the former line. Without 
awaiting further orders, fire was opened, before which 
the enemy was compelled to retire. He served in the 
splendid campaign, that ended with the battle of Cedar 
Creek, where that other Perry county boy made his 
famous ride and snatched victory from defeat. Sub- 
sequent to this Major Comley became Colonel of his 



180 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

reg"iment and remained with it till the close of the 
war. 

In October, 1865, he became Editor of the Ohio 
State Journal. This position he held for twelve years. 
As an editoral writer, General Comley wielded a vig- 
orous pen and he was largely instrumental in shaping 
the policy in the Republican party, not only in Ohio 
but in the nation at large. 

Upon the accession of Rutherford B. Hayes to 
the Presidency, he appointed his old comrade-at-arms 
as Minister to the Hawaiian Islands. He remained 
there till 1882, when he returned to Ohio and pur- 
chased the "Toledo Commercial." He at once assumed 
the editorial control. It was while thus engaged that 
he died in 1887. 

General Comley was a man of noble character. 
Fearless as he was in stating his opinions, yet his 
enemies — political, for he had no other — admired him. 
Even his political enemies were his staunchest per- 
sonal friends. President Hayes said of him : "Know- 
ing General Comley intimately for more than twenty- 
five years, and especially having lived by his side, day 
and night, during almost the wdiole of the w^ar, it 
would be strange indeed, if I did not deem it a priv- 
ilege and a labor of love, to unite with his comrades 
in strewing flowers on the grave of one whose talents 
and achievements were so ample and so admirable, 
and whose life and character were so rounded to a 
completeness rarely found among the best and the 
most gifted of men. 

"Whose wit in the combat, as gentle as bright, 
Ne'er carried a heart stain away on its blade." 




GENERAL JAS. M, COMLEY. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 181 

A SUMMER DAY. 

Extract from a letter written by General Comley, 
from Hawaii : 

Did you ever walk along the meadow stream in June, 
with the shiners flashing back the summer sun — just warm 
enough — not hot, but about as warm, (say) as the New 
Jerusalem — walk along and catch here a whiflf of violets, 
there a breath of milky fragrance from the ruminating cat- 
tle, then a swell of delirious rapture, from the throat of 
some mocking-bird, answered, by a clear alert 'Bob White" 
from the wheat fields near by — did you ever walk along 
so, watching the summer clouds drift lazily into every rav- 
ishing beauty of form or color possible to conceive, and 
bless the day to yourself with a sort of blissful awe as if 
God was walking in the fields ? 

Gen. Philip H. Sheridan. 

Standing- on the plaform in the Cyclorama of the 
battle of Missionary Ridge, at the Pan-American Ex- 
position, one could not fail to notice the figure of a 
man of small stature on foot, at the head of his men, 
charging up the hill to take the breastworks on the 
summit. 

At the foot of the hill an aide held two horses. 
One of them was Gen. Phil Sheridan's. He had dis- 
mounted after taking the first line of rifle pits and was 
pressing on toward the second. Orders came from 
Grant to take only the first line but it was too late. 
The impetuous Sheridan was pushing up the hill in the 
face of a storm of bullets. To order the men back was 
out of the question. They rushed on with a cheer, 
carried the second line of rifle pits and met the enemy 
in a desperate hand-to-hand struggle. The Confeder- 
ates were driven from their guns and sent flying down 
the opposite slope, pursued by a shower of stones from 



182 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

the Union men who had not time to reload. Before 
all of Sheridan's men had reached the crest, the de- 
moralized troops of Brag"f^ were seen with a large train 
of wagons, flying along the valley, half a mile away. 

This is where the star of Phil. Sheridan began its 
ascendency. A few months later. Grant on becoming- 
Commander-in-chief, selected the great cavalry leader 
to assist him in Virginia. Sheridan's work in the 
Shenandoah valley is a part of the history of the 
Civil War. 

Grant had his hands full in front of Richmond. 
General Early went up the Shenandoah into Mary- 
land, threatened Washington, Baltimore, and even 
Philadelphia. Sheridan waited some weeks, maneu- 
vering. The country was impatient. Grant visited 
him for the purpose of suggesting a plan of opera- 
tions ; but he found Sheridan ready for battle and only 
waiting for an opportune time to strike. Grant re- 
turned without giving any suggestions. Finally Early 
divided his command and the shrewd Irishman from 
Perry county "struck." He attacked him, flanked him 
right and left, broke the Confederate lines in every 
direction, and sent the defeated troops "whirling 
through Winchester" with a loss of 4.500 men. 

A partial victory was not characteristic of Sheri- 
dan. He pursued Early thirty miles, and just when 
the Confederate General began to feel himself safe, 
he was attacked again by the energetic Sheridan and 
was completely routed with 1,100 men and sixteen 
guns captured. 

Again he pursued him, driving him out of the val- 
ley and into the gaps of the Blue Ridge. "Keep on" 
said Grant, "and your work will cause the fall of 
Richmond." These victories electrified the North, 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 183 

while the South was equally cast down. Early's troops 
were disheartened. The Richmond mob, disgusted at 
Early's repeated defeats, sarcastically labeled the new 
cannon destined for his use : 



To General Sheridan, 
Care of Gen. Early. 



Sheridan had devastated the Shenandoah so com- 
pletely that it would not furnish support to his army. 
It was said that a crow would have to carry his pro- 
visions with him if he went into that section. Sheridan 
retired to Cedar Creek. From here he was called to 
Washington for consultation. While he was absent, 
the enemy attacked his forces in camp, drove them back 
in disorder and captured eighteen guns and i,ooo 
prisoners. Sheridan had stopped over night in Win- 
chester. At nine o'clock that morning, while riding 
toward the camp, he heard the sound of heavy firing," 
and he knew at once that a battle was in progress. 
Soon he began to meet the fugitives from his own army. 
Taking in the situation at a glance, he rode forward at 
a gallop swinging his hat and shouting, "Face the other 
way, boys, face the other way !" We are going back 
to lick them out of their boots !" 

The scattered soldiers faced about and taking up 
the General's cry "Face about," met the enemy and 
forced them to a stand. The presence of Sheridan had 
as much effect on the Confederates to terrorize them 
as it had to rallv the Union forces. They precipitately 
fled, leaving twenty-four guns, i,6oo prisoners and 
1, 800 killed and wounded. 

Sheridan remained at Winchester till the spring of 
'65 when he went to join Grant at Richmond. On his 



184 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

wav he again met his old enemy and they fought their 
final battle. Early's force laid down their arms and 
surrendered. His army and reputation had both been 
destroyed. Lee relieved him and he retired in dis- 
grace. 

The daring ride of Sheridan stands pre-eminently 
as one of the greatest achievements of American gen- 
eralship. Celebrated in song and story as it is, it is 
with some degree of pride that Perry countians re- 
member that the hero was once a boy in Somerset. 

It is thought appropriate to insert here the well- 
known poem, by T. Buchanan Read, who wrote it in 
Cincinnati, November i, 1864. The same evening it 
was recited by James E. Murdoch, the elocutionist, at 
Pike's Opera House. It was received with great en- 
thusiasm. The audience was completely carried away. 
So intensely were their feelings wrought upon that 
one man exclaimed after the last stanza. "Thank God ! 
I was afraid Sheridan would not get there." 

Up from the South at break of day, 
Bringing to Winchester fresh dismay. 
The affrighted air with a shudder bore. 
Like a herald in haste to the chieftain's door, 
The terrible grumble and rumble and roar. 
Telling the battle was on once more, 
And Sheridan twenty miles away. 

And wider still those billows of war 

Thundered along the horizon's bar; 

And louder yet in Winchester rolled 

The roar of that red sea uncontrolled, 

Making the blood of the listener cold, 

And he thought of the stake in that fiery fray. 

An Sheridan twenty miles away. 

But there is a road from Winchester town, 
A good, broad highway leading down; 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 185 

And there, through the flush of the morning bright, 

A steed as black as the steeds of night, 

Was seen to pass, as with eagle flight. 

As if he knew the terrible need; 

He stretched away with his utmost speed; 

Hills rose and fell; but his heart was gay, 

With Sheridan fifteen miles away. 

Still sprung from those hoofs, thundering South, 

The dust like smoke from a cannon's mouth, 

On the trail of a comet, sweeping faster and faster, 

Forboding to traitors the doom of disaster, 

The heart of the steed and the breath of the master 

Were beating like prisoners assaulting their walls, 

Impatient to be where the battlefield calls; 

Every nerve of the charger was trained to full play, 

With Sheridan only ten miles away. 

Under his spurring feet the road 

Like an arrowy Alpine river flowed, 

And the landscape sped away behind 

Like an ocean flying before the wind; 

And the steed, like a bark fed with furnace ire. 

Swept on, with his wild eyes full of fire. 

But lo! he is nearing his heart's desire; 

He is snuffing the smoke of the roaring fray. 

With Sheridan only five miles away. 

The first that the General saw were the groups 

Of stragglers, and then the retreating troops; 

What was done? What to do? a glance told him both. 

Then, striking his spurs, with a terrible oath, 

He dashed down the line, 'mid a storm of huzzas. 

And the waves of retreat checked its course there, because 

The sight of the master compelled it to pause. 

With foam and dust the black charger was gray; 

By the flash of his eye, and the red nostrils' play, 

He seemed to the whole great army to say, 

"I have brought you Sheridan all the way 
From Winchester down to save the day." 



186 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

Hurrah ! hurrah ! for Sheridan ! 

Hurrah ! hurrah ! for horse and man ! 
And when their statues are placed on high, 
Under the dome of the Union sky — 
The American soldiers' temple of fame — 
There, with the glorious General's name. 
Be it said, in letters both bold and bright, 
"Here's the steed that saved the day. 
By carrying Sheridan into the fight 
From Winchester twenty miles away !" 

It is of interest to note that the "hroad highway 
leading down," is the National Road, passing through 
the Refugee lands in the southern part of Licking 
county. 

A few years ago, an old Virginian, ninety years of 
age, who had had sons in the Confederate army, was 
visiting friends in Perry county. Upon hearing that it 
was the native county of Sheridan, he went to Somerset 
to view his boyhood home. In speaking about it he said, 
''I live in the Shenandoah valley. When I go home 
I can tell the people I was where Sheridan was raised. 
His name is still a terror to us." 

About twenty years ago, when the writer was a 
mere boy, he discovered that Gen. Phil. Sheridan was 
from Perry county by reading the following on the 
"boiler plate" side of the New Lexington "Herald." 

"why SHERIDAN W^-VLKS." 

"A reporter was standing on the portico of the war de- 
partment building a few afternoons ago, when the carriage 
assigned to the general of the army drove up. General Phil. 
Sheridan was standing on the portico with several friends. 
It was a bright afternoon, and General Sheridan shook his 
head, when the driver approached, and said: 'Never mind; 
go back to the stable. I will walk home this afternoon.' One 
of his friends, who had been intimate with him in Chicago, 
remarked : 'That is a strange fancy of the General's. He 




THE EARLY HOME OF GENERAL SHERIDAN. 
(Still Standing.) 




REV. FATHER ZAHM — 

PRIEST AND SCIENTIST. 

(Courtesy of Catholic Columbian.) 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 187 

never wants a carriage for himself. He never uses one if 
he can help it. If the day is fine he likes to walk down 
town; and if it isn't he'd rather go home in a street car. 
This may seem strange to you, as you may be aware of the 
fact that he used to be noted for fondness for horseflesh. 
Officers who served under him during the late war used to 
say that he appeared superb when mounted, but I can tell 
you the secret. When Phil. Sheridan's war horse died a few 
years ago. his love for horse flesh went out of him. A gen- 
tleman who knew him well in boyhood vouches for the truth 
of the story that the first time Phil. Sheridan was ever on 
a horse, was when Bill Seymour, a boy in Perry county, 
Ohio, put him on a fier}^ animal, unsaddled, and told him to 
hold on with his knees. Young Sheridan did so until the 
horse had galloped about two miles across the country, when 
the beast came to a halt. Phil, was still on his back holding 
on with his knees. The feat became the talk of the county, 
as gossip was scarce in those days. After that he was known 
as an expert horseman." 

General Phil. Sheridan was not born in Perry 
county, but in Albany, New York. March i6, 
183 1, is his natal day. When only a few years old 
his parents came to Somerset, where Phil, passed his 
boyhood days. He clerked in the dry-goods store 
of Finck and Ditto and from there, by the assistance 
of General Ritchey, he went as a cadet to West Point, 
where he graduated in 1853, thirty-fourth, in a class of 
fifty-two. He served in the army of his country for 
forty years. At the time of his death, at Nonquitt, 
Massachusetts, in 1888, he was Lientenant-General of 
the Army. This position was never held but by three 
other persons — Washington, Grant and Sherman. He 
is buried in the National Cemetery, Arlington, where 
so many of our soldiers sleep their last sleep. On a 
beautiful hill side in this city of the dead, the Perry 
countv boy and the greatest of American Generals 
awaits the call of the Angel of the Resurrection. 



188 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

Dr. Isaac Crook. 

Among' the prominent ministers of the Methodist 
Church, Dr. Isaac Crook, now of Ironton, Ohio, has 
for many years maintained a high standing, not only 
as a pulpit orator, but as a teacher, lecturer, and 
writer. Dr. Crook was born near Crossenville, in 
Jackson township. His early life was spent in the 
usual manner of country boys. He taught school in the 
county and subsequently graduated from the Ohio 
Wesleyan University at Delaware. In i860 he mar- 
ried Miss Emma Wilson of that city. He served as 
pastor in many leading churches in Ohio, Illinois, 
Minnesota, Michigan and Kentucky. In the capacity 
of teacher he has been President of the University 
01 the Pacific, College Park, California, Chancellor of 
the Nebraska Wesleyan University, and in 1896 was 
elected President of the Ohio University, at Athens. 
Since 1898 he has served as Pastor in Ironton. 

As an author he has produced some very valuable 
and readable literature. His biographical sketches 
are especially interesting. His delineation of charac- 
ter shows him to be a deep thinker. Three of his 
sketches are particularly excellent — the ones on Bishop 
Edward Thompson, Judge Joshua McLean and Wil- 
liam Henry Harrison. Besides these he has written 
many valuable articles on pedagogy and has been a 
contributor to magazines of both a religious and a secu- 
lar nature. 

As a platform speaker, Dr. Crook holds no med- 
iocre position. He is a clear, logical and earnest 
speaker. He always has something to bring to his 
audiences and his lectures are well received. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 189 

Rev. Father Zahm. 

The log- school house, the puncheon floor, "the rude 
desk of the jack-knife's carved initial" have sent forth 
many a successful graduate into the post-graduate 
course of actual life. Pigeon Roost School on the 
Logan road may justly be proud of two of her alumni 
— MacGahan and Father Zahm. Both have been en- 
listed in the same cause — that of Liberty. The one 
for political, the other for intellectual. One fought to 
free people's bodies, the other to free their minds. One 
with pen and sword, the other with pen and micro- 
scope. One studied the hearts of the people, the other 
the great heart of nature. Both fought against ene- 
mies of the Christian religion — the one, the Turk, the 
other, the agnostic. Both were victorious. 

Rev. Dr. Father Zahm, priest, scientist and author, 
is of German origin on the paternal side, while his 
mother belonged to the famous English family of Gen- 
eral Bradock of pre-Revolutionary fame. 

He was born in the southern part of Jackson town- 
shio, in a log house which stood on land now owned 
by Mr. James Gordon. He worked on the farm in 
summer and in the winter attended school at Pigeon 
Roost, where MacGahan was also a pupil at the same 
time. It is said that he was a very industrious stu- 
dent, a trait that has clung to him throughout life. 
In 1866 at the age of sixteen he went to Notre Dame 
University, where he graduated five years later with 
high honors. 

"After his ordination to the priesthood, which took place 
at the completion of his theological studies, Father Zahm, 
who had thus early shown a special fondness and capacity for 
scientific work, was placed in charge of the university's sci- 
entific department. 



190 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

■'To him, perhaps, more than to any other single individ- 
ual is the scientific school of Notre Dame indebted for the 
high renown which deservedly attaches to it; for in behalf 
of it and the university museum, of which he was for several 
years the curator, Dr. Zahm traveled far and wide in quest 
of materials wherewith to equip more fully these departments; 
and on these journeys he made man}' valuable scientific 
researches. 

"The doctor's reputation as a scientist is by no means 
confined to this country. He is a member of more than one 
European scientific society; and his published works, 'Sound 
and Music,' 'Bible, Science and Faith,' and 'Evolution and 
Dogma,' are as well known on the other side of the Atlantic 
as on this, where they are to be found in almost every public 
library in the land. He is an accomplished linguist, speaking 
and writing several European languages with facility; and 
because of his scientific researches, his extensive travels and 
his recent residence in Rome, he is well and very favorably 
known to the leading ecclesiastics in this and other coun- 
tries." 

"The doctor's attitude in regard to science is that faith 
and reason are harmonious. In other words, that the teach- 
ings of science are not incompatible with revealed religion." 

"The doctor has never forgotten Perry county and the 
little log school house at Pigeon Roost, where the first founda- 
tions of his present profound and comprehensive learning 
were laid. Journeying to the Pacific slope some years ago, 
he had as traveling companions the late Judge Huffman and 
wife, and in the course of conversation he learned that the 
Judge hailed from Perry county. Whereupon the doctor 
jubilantly exclaimed that that was his native county, and pro- 
ceeded to ask the latest news from New Lexington and Som- 
erset and all the adjacent places; and when his curiosity had 
been in a measure satisfied, he spoke affectionately of the 
days when he studied under Master Gordon in the little log 
building that stood on the Logan road." 




CATHERINE CAVINEE. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, 191 

The Oldest Woman in Perry County. 

There is no doubt that Catherine Cavinee, who 
died August 8, 1901, at the age of one hundred and five 
years was the oldest person that ever Hved in Perry 
county. She was born in Pennsylvania and came to 
Perry county when she was nearing middle life, 
The county was then practically one unbroken forest, 
except, where the pioneer settler had here and there 
begun his clearing. No bands of steel crossed the 
county as a net-work, but the hunter's trail and the 
settler's path were the only roads. There were no 
bridges across the streams. There were only a few 
small hamlets. The population of the county was only 
a few hundreds. There were no blast-furnaces to light 
up the darkness of the night. The hills had not begun 
to pour out their tons of "black diamonds." The screech 
of the locomotive, the whirr of wheels and the hum of 
industry had not yet been heard. Instead there were 
the sounds of the woodman's axe, as he drove it into 
the heart of the oak ; the gurgle of the brook as it 
trickled over ledge and rock through the virgin forest , 
the voice of bird and beast as if they were discussing 
the new order of things. 

What a transition to have seen the changes of three 
centuries. It is not given to many to so see. But to 
have lived from Washington to McKinley ; to have seen 
the growth of a Republic ; to have seen forests change 
to fields, and these fields to teem with a great popula- 
tion, and then to "wrap the drapery of the couch about 
us and lie down to pleasant dreams," is a boon to 
be desired . 



192 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

Perry County's First Historian. 

To Ephraim S. Colborn belongs the honor of being 
the first to gather material for a history of Perry 
county. Mr. Colborn was eniin ntly qualified for that 
work. Born in 1828, many of the first settlers were yet 
living and he could get the early happenings of our 
county direct from the actors themselves. Engaged al- 
most continuously in newspaper work from 1851, he 
had ample opportunity for collecting necessary data. 
His History appeared in 1883 and was quite exten- 
sively sold. Unfortunately the author received but 
very small recompense for his work of a life time. In 
his early life Mr. Colborn was a teacher. He studied 
law, was admitted to the bar. but never practiced. 

In 185 1 he began the publication in Somerset of the 
Perry County Democrat. He served on the Board of 
Education in both Somerset and New Lexington. In 
1861 President Lincoln appointed him Postmaster of 
New Lexington. In 1866 he resigned that office be- 
cause he was not in accord with the policy of the ad- 
ministration of President Johnson. In 1873 upon the 
death of William A. Brown, Superintendent of the 
New Lexington Schools, Mr. Colborn went back into 
the ranks of teachers, for the unexpired term. 

In 1882 Mr. Colborn became local and general edi- 
tor of the New Lexington Tribune and for fourteen 
years he was not absent from his office a single day. 
Now that he is not in the active newspaper work, he 
yet devotes the most of his time to various lines of liter- 
ary productions. His articles have appeared in Boston 
Ideas, Harper's Bazar and other well-known publica- 
tions. An article of his that attracted some attention 
was the "Newspaper World." His writings also in- 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 193 

elude some poetical productions. Among these are 
"A legend of the Scioto," "The Universal Birthright," 
"The Vision of Sylvanus," and "A World Oratorio." 

Mr. Colborn has dso a reputation as a public 
speaker. He delivered the eulogy on the death of Lin- 
coln in New Lexington. In 1876 he gave the Centen- 
nial Oration at Somerset and in 1884 he pronounced 
the eulogy over the grave of Mr. MacGahan. 

Mr. Colborn interestingly tells of his experience in 
taking the Teachers' Examination in this county in the 
fall of 1849. 

There were three Examiners, T. J. McGinnis, Col. 
William Spencer and John McMahon, a merchant, 
who was an excellent mathematician. 

In taking the examination in those days, the appli- 
cant would go to one of the members of the Board, 
who would do all of the examining. If the examina- 
tion was successful, he would be handed a Certificate, 
which he would take to the other two examiners for 
their signatures. 

At this particular time, the applicant went to the 
law office of Col. Spencer in Somerset. But the 
Colonel was not in. He then went to the law office 
of Mr. McGinnis. That gentleman being at home 
the examination proceeded as follows : 

A piece of foolscap paper was handed to the ap- 
plicant. Then a quill pen that had seen considerable 
service in the law office was produced. It is said that 
the quill pen of Mr. McGinnis was a standing joke 
among the lawyers. The applicant was asked to show 
his ability as a penman. As soon as the examiner saw 
that the applicant could really write, he was satisfied on 
that line. Then they went to the Grammar depart- 
13* H. p. c. 



194 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 

ment. Several questions were asked but in such a 
vague way as to show that the examiner had forgotten 
some of his grammar. The appHcant offered a cor- 
rection and the examiner admitting it, concluded that 
his man was "up" on that branch. Then came the 
mathematics. This was a particularly searching test. 
The first and only problem to be solved was, "What 
is the cost of 185 yards calico at i8| cents per yard?" 
In a few moments the answer was produced. The 
examiner evidently thought that he had discovered 
a mathematical prodigy. He certainly laid a sufficient 
amount of stress on this one subject, so that he con- 
sidered it unnecessary to ask any questions on Geog- 
raphy, but dismissed it with the question that is in itself 
an answer — "Of course you have studied Geography." 
This completed the examination. 

'T assure you, you pass," was the verdict. There- 
upon seizing a sheet of paper and the before mentioned 
quill, he wrote out a certificate for two years. The 
replv to the question, "What's the fee?" was, "We 
don't charge anything at all unless we're about out of 
tobacco." Looking into the drawer of his table, he 
continued, "We're about out. You can give me half 
a dollar." At that time the examiner who did the 
examining got the fee. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 195 



The Beauty of Our Hills. 

There is beauty in these hills of ours for him with eyes to see; 
There is beauty smiling at us from the meadows broad and 

free; 
There is beauty in the woodlands; there is beauty 'long the 

brooks; 
There's beauty in the violet light as it gleams through leafy 

nooks. 
And a beauty out of heaven over all the landscape rills 
When the sun shines down upon these Perry county hills. 

There is beauty in the moonlight as it falls athwart the fields; 
And we see it in the harvest when it its fulness yields; 
It is gleaming in the sunrise when the clouds are blushing red; 
It is glowing in the sunset with its streamers bright o'er head; 
And a beauty past expression my entire being thrills 
When the meadow lark sings sweetly in these Perry county 
hills. 

There is beauty in the springtime when the grass is fresh and 

green, 
And it comes to us in summer when the bees and flowers are 

seen; 
And we feel it in the autumn in the hazy mellow glow; 
And always when the winter dons his overcoat of snow; 
And a beauty that's bewitching my heart with rapture thrills, 
As I listen to the Bob-white in these Perry county hills. 

There's a beauty that'^ majestic in the pine-clad mountain 

side; 
And a music that's sublime in the ocean's roaring tide; 
We hear it, where the rivers flow through woodlands old and 

hoary; 
And see it, in the distant lands of classic song and story; 
But to me the most enchanting is the song that o'er me trills. 
When I list to Mother Nature in these Perry county hills. 

C. L. M. 

New Lexington, O., March 19, 1902. 



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